NameCensus.

UK surname

Munnings

An English surname derived from the Old French word "monier," meaning a monk or friar.

In the 1881 census there were 308 people recorded with the Munnings surname, ranking it #9,542 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 251, ranked #16,744, down from #9,542 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hadleigh, London parishes and Holbrook. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Suffolk Coastal and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Munnings is 389 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.5%.

1881 census count

308

Ranked #9,542

Modern count

251

2016, ranked #16,744

Peak year

1911

389 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Munnings had 308 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,542 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016, ranked #16,744.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 389 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Munnings surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Munnings surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Munnings 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 191 #10,808
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 308 #9,542
1891 historical 256 #12,522
1901 historical 338 #10,709
1911 historical 389 #9,470
1997 modern 268 #14,585
1998 modern 276 #14,679
1999 modern 279 #14,670
2000 modern 280 #14,601
2001 modern 287 #14,131
2002 modern 286 #14,442
2003 modern 271 #14,787
2004 modern 262 #15,233
2005 modern 268 #14,905
2006 modern 275 #14,732
2007 modern 278 #14,773
2008 modern 270 #15,219
2009 modern 273 #15,436
2010 modern 272 #15,811
2011 modern 267 #15,892
2012 modern 255 #16,296
2013 modern 261 #16,309
2014 modern 255 #16,682
2015 modern 256 #16,524
2016 modern 251 #16,744

Geography

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Where Munnings' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hadleigh, London parishes, Holbrook, Lambeth and Capel St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Suffolk Coastal and Mendip. 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 Hadleigh Suffolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Holbrook Suffolk
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Capel St Mary Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 001 Waveney
2 Suffolk Coastal 013 Suffolk Coastal
3 Waveney 007 Waveney
4 Waveney 015 Waveney
5 Mendip 012 Mendip

Forenames

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First names often paired with Munnings

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Munnings

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Munnings, 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 Munnings surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Munnings 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Munnings is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Munnings is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Munnings falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Munnings

The surname MUNNINGS has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "muning" or "muninge," meaning remembrance or memory. This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone who was particularly memorable or had an exceptional memory.

MUNNINGS is thought to have originated in the county of Norfolk, an area known for its rich history and cultural heritage. Some early variations of the spelling include Muninge, Munynge, and Munnynge, reflecting the evolution of the language over time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, a historical document dating back to 1199. These rolls mention a Robert de Muninge, providing evidence of the surname's use during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, the MUNNINGS name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk, another important historical record. This suggests that the name had spread from its origins in Norfolk to neighboring counties.

Notable individuals with the surname MUNNINGS include Sir Alfred Munnings (1878-1959), a renowned English painter celebrated for his depictions of horses and rural life. He was elected as the President of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1944.

Another prominent figure was Lionel Munnings (1899-1965), a British artist and member of the Royal Academy of Arts. He was the son of Sir Alfred Munnings and also gained recognition for his equestrian paintings.

In the literary world, Saki (H.H. Munro) (1870-1916) was a notable writer and satirist. Although his surname was Munro, his pen name, Saki, was derived from the MUNNINGS surname.

The MUNNINGS name has also been associated with places like Munnings Hill in Norfolk, which likely took its name from the local family or landowners bearing the surname.

Additionally, the village of Munnings in Suffolk may have connections to the MUNNINGS surname, further solidifying its ties to the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Munnings families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Munnings 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. Suffolk leads with 158 Munnings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.60x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 158 43.60x
Surrey 26 1.79x
Middlesex 19 0.64x
Cambridgeshire 17 9.02x
Essex 17 2.89x
Hertfordshire 11 5.36x
Kent 8 0.79x
Leicestershire 6 1.82x
Lincolnshire 6 1.26x
Wiltshire 6 2.28x
Devon 5 0.81x
Renfrewshire 5 2.17x
Yorkshire 4 0.14x
Argyllshire 3 3.62x
Staffordshire 3 0.30x
Bedfordshire 2 1.30x
Durham 2 0.23x
Norfolk 2 0.44x
Northamptonshire 2 0.71x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.56x
Cumberland 1 0.39x
Gloucestershire 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. Lowestoft in Suffolk leads with 30 Munnings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 175.23x.

Place Total Index
Lowestoft 30 175.23x
Holbrook 23 2911.39x
Hadleigh 21 596.59x
Lambeth 12 4.63x
Burwell 11 486.73x
Ipswich St Mathew 10 98.43x
Wetherden 10 1960.78x
Woodbridge 9 194.38x
Eyke 7 1794.87x
Capel St Mary 6 1034.48x
Clee With Weelsby 6 57.64x
Corsham 6 156.25x
Hertford All Saints 6 521.74x
Leicester St Mary 6 22.51x
Mendham 6 779.22x
Sevenoaks 6 72.90x
St Pancras London 6 2.51x
Brixham 5 69.64x
Cathcart 5 40.10x
Cheveley 5 781.25x
Hertford St Andrew 5 197.63x
Whitton 5 781.25x
Bentley 4 975.61x
Carlton Colville 4 300.75x
Croydon 4 4.97x
Felixstow 4 454.55x
Harwich St Nicholas 4 88.11x
Islington London 4 1.39x
Lawford 4 465.12x
Leeds 4 2.40x
Ramsey 4 519.48x
Southwark St Saviour 4 26.16x
Yoxford 4 370.37x
Burton Upon Trent 3 12.77x
Dunoon Kilmun 3 46.44x
East Donyland 3 212.77x
Hintlesham 3 517.24x
Kensington London 3 1.81x
St Marylebone London 3 1.89x
Barton In Clay 2 185.19x
Brantham 2 487.80x
Camberwell 2 1.05x
Haughley 2 222.22x
Kirkley 2 66.01x
Knockholt 2 246.91x
Limehouse London 2 6.12x
Rothwell 2 71.17x
South Shields 2 25.38x
Bermondsey 1 1.13x
Colchester St Botolph 1 20.00x
Crosthwaite 1 312.50x
Dinton 1 140.85x
Drinkstone 1 212.77x
East Harling 1 91.74x
Epsom 1 14.16x
Great Bromley 1 135.14x
Hampstead London 1 2.16x
Ipswich St Mary At Tower 1 125.00x
Knodishall 1 217.39x
Leiston 1 40.16x
Newington 1 0.91x
St Andrewthe Less 1 4.64x
Stowmarket 1 23.87x
Sutton 1 9.53x
Thetford St Mary 1 80.00x
Westbury On Trym 1 5.06x
Westleton 1 117.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Alice 16
Eliza 9
Sarah 9
Elizabeth 7
Harriet 6
Susannah 6
Emily 5
Emma 5
Lucy 5
Susan 5
Ada 4
Jane 4
Susanna 4
Ann 3
Ellen 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
A. 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
C. 1
Celestine 1
Celistine 1
Elizebeth 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Katherine 1
Lillie 1
Maria 1
Maude 1
Minnie 1
R.E. 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 17
George 16
Charles 10
James 8
Arthur 5
Edward 4
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Ernest 3
Thomas 3
David 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Lionel 2
Theophilis 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Earnest 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Freeman 1
H.F. 1
Harold 1
Henery 1
Isaiah 1
Isiah 1
Nathaniel 1
Robt. 1

FAQ

Munnings surname: questions and answers

How common was the Munnings surname in 1881?

In 1881, 308 people were recorded with the Munnings surname. That placed it at #9,542 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Munnings surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016. That gives Munnings a modern rank of #16,744.

What does the Munnings surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French word "monier," meaning a monk or friar.

What does the Munnings map show?

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