NameCensus.

UK surname

Mulville

An Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Maolmhuaidh meaning "descendant of the devoted servant".

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Mulville surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 87, ranked #32,476, down from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sefton, Knowsley and Maldon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mulville is 107 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 521.4%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

87

2016, ranked #32,476

Peak year

2004

107 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Mulville had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016, ranked #32,476.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 33 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mulville surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mulville surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mulville 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 19 #32,642
1901 historical 26 #31,152
1911 historical 33 #29,703
1997 modern 100 #26,901
1998 modern 100 #27,619
1999 modern 98 #28,050
2000 modern 100 #27,695
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 96 #28,534
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 107 #26,899
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 94 #31,016
2012 modern 84 #32,502
2013 modern 90 #32,146
2014 modern 89 #32,409
2015 modern 84 #32,782
2016 modern 87 #32,476

Geography

Back to top

Where Mulvilles 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 Sefton, Knowsley, Maldon and West Lancashire. 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 Sefton 027 Sefton
2 Knowsley 003 Knowsley
3 Knowsley 004 Knowsley
4 Maldon 004 Maldon
5 West Lancashire 009 West Lancashire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mulville

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mulville

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mulville, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Mulville surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mulville household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mulville 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

Mulville 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

Mulville falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mulville 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 Mulville, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mulville

The surname Mulville is of Irish origin, with its roots traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "Muil," meaning "summit" or "hill," and "baile," meaning "town" or "homestead." This indicates that the name likely originated from a particular settlement located on a hilltop or elevated area.

One of the earliest documented references to the Mulville name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1178, a person named Muiredach Mulville is mentioned as a prominent figure in the region of Ulster.

During the 13th century, the Mulville family held significant influence and land in County Down, particularly in the areas around Downpatrick and the Ards Peninsula. Records from this time period show variations in the spelling, including Mulvill, Mulvill, and Mulvill.

In the 14th century, the Mulville name appeared in the Annals of Connaught, a chronicle of events in the western province of Connacht. This suggests that members of the family had expanded their presence beyond Ulster and into other parts of Ireland.

Notable individuals bearing the Mulville surname throughout history include:

1. Muiredach Mulville (12th century), a prominent figure in Ulster mentioned in the Annals of Ulster. 2. Sir Richard Mulville (c. 1290 - c. 1360), a Norman-Irish knight and landowner in County Down. 3. Edmond Mulville (c. 1550 - 1619), an Irish scholar and historian who wrote extensively about Irish genealogy and history. 4. Pádraig Mulville (1631 - 1703), an Irish Catholic priest and philosopher who played a significant role in the Irish Confederate Wars. 5. Mary Mulville (1785 - 1869), an Irish philanthropist and advocate for women's education, who founded several schools in County Down.

The Mulville surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Mulville Hill in County Down and Mulville Bridge in County Westmeath, further reinforcing its connection to the local geography and settlements.

While the origins of the Mulville name can be traced back to the 11th century, it has endured through generations, carrying a rich history and cultural significance rooted in the Irish landscape and heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mulville families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mulville 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. Lancashire leads with 13 Mulvilles recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.03x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 13 8.03x
Middlesex 1 0.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Derby in Lancashire leads with 8 Mulvilles recorded in 1881 and an index of 168.78x.

Place Total Index
West Derby 8 168.78x
Manchester 5 68.68x
Westminster St James 1 71.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Ann 1
Bridget 1
Elizabeth 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Thomas 2
James 1
Peter 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 Mulville households.

FAQ

Mulville surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mulville surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Mulville surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mulville surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016. That gives Mulville a modern rank of #32,476.

What does the Mulville surname mean?

An Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Maolmhuaidh meaning "descendant of the devoted servant".

What does the Mulville map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mulville 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.