NameCensus.

UK surname

Mulvihill

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Maolmhichíl, meaning "descendant of the devotee of St. Michael."

In the 1881 census there were 21 people recorded with the Mulvihill surname, ranking it #30,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 560, ranked #9,165, up from #30,609 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Medway, Forest Heath and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mulvihill is 597 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2566.7%.

1881 census count

21

Ranked #30,609

Modern count

560

2016, ranked #9,165

Peak year

1999

597 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mulvihill had 21 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,609 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 560 in 2016, ranked #9,165.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 84 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Mulvihill surname distribution map

The map shows where the Mulvihill surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Mulvihill surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mulvihill over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 2 #33,133
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 21 #30,609
1891 historical 29 #31,963
1901 historical 70 #26,383
1911 historical 84 #24,442
1997 modern 563 #8,516
1998 modern 594 #8,456
1999 modern 597 #8,469
2000 modern 593 #8,486
2001 modern 572 #8,561
2002 modern 577 #8,664
2003 modern 558 #8,740
2004 modern 549 #8,878
2005 modern 542 #8,887
2006 modern 552 #8,786
2007 modern 546 #8,953
2008 modern 556 #8,892
2009 modern 550 #9,169
2010 modern 583 #8,971
2011 modern 571 #9,002
2012 modern 550 #9,167
2013 modern 548 #9,359
2014 modern 554 #9,331
2015 modern 556 #9,221
2016 modern 560 #9,165

Geography

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Where Mulvihills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Medway, Forest Heath, Manchester, Kirklees and Brent. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Medway 035 Medway
2 Forest Heath 004 Forest Heath
3 Manchester 048 Manchester
4 Kirklees 037 Kirklees
5 Brent 001 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mulvihill

These lists show first names that appear often with the Mulvihill surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mulvihill

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mulvihill, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Mulvihill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Mulvihill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mulvihill is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mulvihill is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mulvihill falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mulvihill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mulvihill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mulvihill

The surname Mulvihill is of Irish origin, specifically from the Gaelic territories of what is now County Kerry and parts of County Limerick. It is believed to have emerged sometime in the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the old Irish words "muil" meaning "summit" or "hilltop" and "bhile" meaning "ancient tree." Thus, Mulvihill likely referred to someone who lived near or owned property with an old tree atop a hill.

Early recordings of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The name appeared in various spellings such as Ó Maoilbhile, Ó Maoilibhile, and Ó Muilbhile. These variations reflect the difficulty of transliterating Irish names into English at the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was Diarmaid Ó Muilbhile, a scribe and poet who lived in County Kerry in the 15th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Domhnall Ó Maoilibhile, a chieftain of the Clann Mhaoilbhile, a branch of the Uí Fhloinn dynasty, who fought against the English in the 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name was anglicized to its modern spelling of Mulvihill. During this period, the Mulvihills were among the many Irish families who lost their lands as a result of the Cromwellian conquest and the subsequent plantation of Ireland by English and Scottish settlers.

A prominent figure from this era was Donough Mulvihill, a landowner and rebel who participated in the Irish Rebellion of 1641. He was later captured and hanged in 1642 for his role in the uprising.

In the 18th century, the Mulvihills were found primarily in County Kerry, with some also residing in neighboring counties such as Limerick and Cork. During this time, the name Mulvihill appeared in various records, including the Petty Census of 1659 and the Hearth Money Rolls of the late 17th century.

Notable Mulvihills from the 19th century include Father Patrick Mulvihill, a Catholic priest and author who wrote extensively on the history and culture of County Kerry, and James Mulvihill, a railroad engineer and surveyor who worked on the construction of several major railway lines in Ireland and England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mulvihill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mulvihill surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 8 Mulvihills recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.91x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 8 3.91x
Lancashire 6 2.47x
Warwickshire 5 9.68x
Sussex 2 5.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Botolph Aldgate in Middlesex leads with 7 Mulvihills recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
St Botolph Aldgate 7 2500.00x
West Derby 6 84.39x
Aston 5 35.16x
Rumbolds Wyke 2 3333.33x
Chelsea London 1 16.21x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mulvihill surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Annie 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Hannah 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
Mary 1
Winifride 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mulvihill surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 2
Martin 2
Michael 2
Roger 2
Edward 1
John 1
Patrick 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mulvihill households.

FAQ

Mulvihill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mulvihill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 21 people were recorded with the Mulvihill surname. That placed it at #30,609 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mulvihill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 560 in 2016. That gives Mulvihill a modern rank of #9,165.

What does the Mulvihill surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Maolmhichíl, meaning "descendant of the devotee of St. Michael."

What does the Mulvihill map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mulvihill bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.