NameCensus.

UK surname

Munn

An English toponymic surname derived from the Old English word "munn," meaning a man or person.

In the 1881 census there were 2,162 people recorded with the Munn surname, ranking it #2,056 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,923, ranked #2,309, down from #2,056 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rother, Worcester and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Munn is 3,147 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.2%.

1881 census count

2,162

Ranked #2,056

Modern count

2,923

2016, ranked #2,309

Peak year

1999

3,147 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Munn had 2,162 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,056 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,923 in 2016, ranked #2,309.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,870 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Munn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Munn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Munn 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 1,616 #1,780
1861 historical 1,778 #1,631
1881 historical 2,162 #2,056
1891 historical 2,561 #1,857
1901 historical 2,870 #1,949
1911 historical 2,283 #2,220
1997 modern 3,067 #2,095
1998 modern 3,130 #2,143
1999 modern 3,147 #2,152
2000 modern 3,120 #2,157
2001 modern 3,050 #2,157
2002 modern 3,094 #2,174
2003 modern 3,013 #2,180
2004 modern 2,995 #2,193
2005 modern 2,956 #2,193
2006 modern 2,904 #2,228
2007 modern 2,908 #2,249
2008 modern 2,923 #2,250
2009 modern 2,973 #2,273
2010 modern 3,017 #2,293
2011 modern 2,967 #2,301
2012 modern 2,921 #2,291
2013 modern 2,986 #2,282
2014 modern 2,991 #2,295
2015 modern 2,944 #2,301
2016 modern 2,923 #2,309

Geography

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Where Munns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rother, Worcester, Caerphilly, Maidstone and High Peak. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rother 007 Rother
2 Worcester 013 Worcester
3 Caerphilly 017 Caerphilly
4 Maidstone 004 Maidstone
5 High Peak 011 High Peak

Forenames

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First names often paired with Munn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Munn

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Munn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Munn 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Munn 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

Munn is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Munn 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 Munn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Munn

The surname MUNN is of English origin, derived from an Old English word meaning "man" or "person." It is believed to have originated in the counties of Yorkshire and Northumberland during the 7th or 8th century.

The name likely evolved as a nickname or occupational descriptor for a male individual, distinguishing them from others in their community. Over time, this nickname became a hereditary surname passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MUNN surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Mun" or "Mune." This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence in medieval England.

In the 13th century, the MUNN surname appeared in various forms, including "Munne" and "Monne," reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. These variations continued until the 16th century when the spelling stabilized to its modern form.

Notable individuals bearing the MUNN surname throughout history include:

1. John Munn (1566-1630), an English composer and organist during the Renaissance period. 2. Thomas Munn (1735-1811), a British mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. 3. Louisa Munn (1828-1905), an American writer and abolitionist who actively campaigned against slavery in the United States. 4. Paul Sidney Munn (1892-1935), a Canadian soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for valor awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. 5. Katharine Munn (1887-1974), an American professor of English literature and an influential figure in the field of higher education.

Throughout its history, the MUNN surname has been associated with various locations and place names, such as Munn's Brook in Newfoundland, Canada, and Munn Fell in Cumbria, England, further solidifying its roots in the English-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Munn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Munn 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. Kent leads with 375 Munns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.22x.

County Total Index
Kent 375 5.22x
Middlesex 277 1.32x
Lanarkshire 253 3.72x
Renfrewshire 170 10.42x
Sussex 144 4.06x
Worcestershire 110 4.00x
Argyllshire 79 13.48x
Lancashire 66 0.26x
Ayrshire 64 4.06x
Surrey 61 0.59x
Warwickshire 52 0.98x
Staffordshire 48 0.68x
Dunbartonshire 38 6.72x
Hertfordshire 35 2.41x
Northamptonshire 35 1.77x
Bedfordshire 31 2.84x
Herefordshire 31 3.59x
Midlothian 23 0.82x
Durham 22 0.35x
Buckinghamshire 21 1.65x
Essex 20 0.48x
Hampshire 15 0.35x
Northumberland 15 0.48x
Cheshire 14 0.30x
Derbyshire 11 0.33x
Stirlingshire 11 1.42x
Sutherland 11 6.80x
Buteshire 10 7.84x
Leicestershire 10 0.43x
Monmouthshire 10 0.66x
Yorkshire 9 0.04x
Brecknockshire 8 1.90x
Angus 7 0.36x
Glamorgan 7 0.19x
Gloucestershire 6 0.15x
Oxfordshire 6 0.46x
Cornwall 5 0.21x
Denbighshire 5 0.63x
Norfolk 5 0.15x
West Lothian 5 1.58x
Channel Islands 4 0.64x
Devon 4 0.09x
Suffolk 4 0.16x
Shropshire 3 0.17x
Somerset 3 0.09x
Caithness 2 0.69x
Fife 2 0.16x
Inverness-shire 2 0.32x
Perthshire 2 0.21x
Wiltshire 2 0.11x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.08x
Dorset 1 0.07x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.33x
Radnorshire 1 0.59x
Ross-shire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 88 Munns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.23x.

Place Total Index
Govan 88 5.23x
Barony 69 4.00x
Aston 46 3.15x
West Greenock 40 13.66x
St Marylebone London 36 3.20x
Erith 30 42.40x
Paddington London 28 3.62x
Swanscombe 27 83.67x
Glasgow 26 2.15x
Wolverhampton 25 4.58x
Maidstone 24 11.22x
Mearns 24 83.97x
Brighton 23 3.21x
Chelsea London 22 3.47x
Islington London 22 1.08x
East Greenock 21 13.63x
Kensington London 20 1.71x
Milton In Gravesend 20 18.57x
Ninfield 20 459.77x
Tyree 20 100.30x
Abbey 19 7.63x
Auckinleck 19 38.96x
Ombersley 18 117.57x
Smarden 18 219.24x
Battersea 17 2.19x
Claines 17 22.53x
Inverkip 17 44.21x
Luton 16 8.48x
Kilbarchan 15 30.27x
Sandhurst 15 177.51x
St Pancras London 15 0.89x
Bexhill 14 79.14x
Hallow 14 104.01x
Kettering 14 17.48x
Kilmarnock 14 7.47x
Lanark 14 25.56x
Brenenden 13 140.69x
Bromley London 13 2.81x
Edlesborough 13 112.17x
Hooe 13 383.48x
Duddingston 12 21.20x
Inchinnan 12 326.09x
Northampton St Sepulchre 11 10.92x
Old Kilpatrick 11 16.45x
St George Hanover 11 4.00x
Whipsnade 11 833.33x
Worcester St John 11 33.51x
Battle 10 41.75x
Hamilton 10 5.27x
Hammersmith London 10 1.93x
Liscard 10 11.94x
Liverpool 10 0.66x
Ashby De La Zouch 9 16.64x
Bow London 9 3.36x
Cambuslang 9 13.11x
Chatham 9 4.55x
Gillingham 9 6.08x
Glassary 9 28.51x
Headcorn 9 83.64x
Madresfield 9 468.75x
Newington 9 1.16x
Withington 9 159.57x
Bromley 8 7.31x
Cannock 8 6.45x
Canterbury St Mary 8 16.60x
Catsfield 8 157.17x
Cumbernauld 8 25.81x
Eynsford 8 64.99x
Frindsbury 8 29.55x
Kidderminster Borough 8 4.97x
Kilmore Kilbride 8 21.51x
Walthamstow 8 5.35x
Warbleton 8 75.61x
Wavendon 8 113.48x
West Derby 8 1.09x
Hastings St Leonards 7 13.42x
Lee 7 6.71x
Llangattock 7 20.41x
Mile End Old Town 7 2.11x
Worcester St Nicholas 7 53.76x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 76
George 72
John 54
Thomas 45
Henry 37
Charles 36
James 32
Joseph 29
Alfred 26
Frederick 24
Edward 19
Robert 17
Richard 15
Albert 14
Walter 14
Arthur 12
Frank 11
Harry 11
Ernest 9
Herbert 8
Samuel 8
Stephen 8
Alexander 6
Edwin 6
David 5
Duncan 4
Francis 4
Mark 4
Valentine 4
Benjamin 3
Eli 3
Jesse 3
Peter 3
Allen 2
Andrew 2
Daniel 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Jonathan 2
Josiah 2
Lewis 2
Neil 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Dugald 1
Ethelred 1

FAQ

Munn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Munn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,162 people were recorded with the Munn surname. That placed it at #2,056 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Munn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,923 in 2016. That gives Munn a modern rank of #2,309.

What does the Munn surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from the Old English word "munn," meaning a man or person.

What does the Munn map show?

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