UK surname
A locational surname likely derived from a place name referring to a wooded area or mountain.
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Muns surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Broughton, Doncaster and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Muns is 121 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.3%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1851
121 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Muns surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Muns surname density by area, 1851 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 121 | #15,049 |
| 1861 | historical | 70 | #24,911 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 30 | #31,889 |
| 1901 | historical | 31 | #30,616 |
| 1911 | historical | 9 | #32,754 |
| 1997 | modern | 16 | #36,292 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 21 | #35,810 |
| 2000 | modern | 21 | #35,799 |
| 2001 | modern | 21 | #35,646 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 27 | #35,588 |
| 2006 | modern | 29 | #35,605 |
| 2007 | modern | 25 | #36,006 |
| 2008 | modern | 23 | #36,211 |
| 2009 | modern | 22 | #36,394 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 27 | #36,136 |
| 2012 | modern | 26 | #36,166 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 23 | #36,417 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Broughton, Doncaster, Edinburgh, Sutton, Long or St Mary and Enfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broughton | Huntingdonshire |
| 2 | Doncaster | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Sutton, Long or St Mary | Lincolnshire |
| 5 | Enfield | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Muns surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Muns, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Muns surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Muns household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Muns is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Muns is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Muns, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MUNS is an English surname that originated in the 13th century. It derives from the Old English word "mun" or "mune", meaning "protection" or "safeguard". The name was likely first adopted by someone who lived near a defensive structure or fortified area.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname MUNS dates back to 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, where a Robert Mun is mentioned. In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Mun, Munn, and Munne in records from counties like Yorkshire and Suffolk.
In the 16th century, the surname MUNS appeared in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. A notable figure from this era was Thomas Munne, born in 1534, who was a prominent merchant and landowner in the town.
By the 17th century, the surname had spread to other parts of England, with variations like Muns, Munns, and Munnes appearing in records from counties like Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire. One notable individual from this period was William Muns (1594-1663), a Member of Parliament for Cricklade in Wiltshire.
In the 18th century, the surname MUNS was found in various parts of England, including the counties of Essex, Kent, and Dorset. John Muns (1718-1788), a renowned clockmaker from London, was one of the more notable figures with this surname during this time.
As the name spread and evolved, it also took on associations with certain place names. For example, the village of Munsley in Hertfordshire was once known as "Munnes Leigh" or "Mun's Meadow", suggesting a possible connection to the surname's origins.
Other historical figures bearing the MUNS surname include Sir Thomas Muns (1767-1842), a British naval officer and colonial administrator who served as Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, and Robert Muns (1819-1895), a prominent architect and surveyor in London who designed several notable buildings in the city.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Muns surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 18 Muns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.07x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 18 | 2.07x |
| Middlesex | 16 | 2.19x |
| Surrey | 12 | 3.37x |
| Huntingdonshire | 10 | 68.87x |
| Midlothian | 7 | 7.14x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.20x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 3.04x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 2.64x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.98x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.23x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.45x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.41x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 15 Muns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.96x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Blackburn | 15 | 64.96x |
| Enfield | 10 | 208.33x |
| Ramsey | 10 | 862.07x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 7 | 17.75x |
| Southwark Christchurch | 7 | 204.08x |
| Bethnal Green London | 5 | 15.73x |
| Bermondsey | 4 | 18.37x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 3 | 11.76x |
| Toxteth Park | 3 | 10.21x |
| Chislehurst | 1 | 74.63x |
| Graveley | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 16.42x |
| Harpole | 1 | 476.19x |
| Kingstonupon Hull | 1 | 172.41x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.57x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 5.06x |
| Plumstead | 1 | 12.02x |
| Rainham | 1 | 144.93x |
| Sandy | 1 | 149.25x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 13.30x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Muns surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Muns surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Muns households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Ag Lab | 3 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Farm Labourer | 2 |
| Rover In Cotton Mill | 2 |
| Ag Laborer | 1 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Bricksorter | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Coal Dealer | 1 |
| Collar Joiner (Mk) | 1 |
| Cotton Can Breaker | 1 |
| Cotton Grinder | 1 |
| Cotton Rover | 1 |
| Cotton Spinner | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Crape Worker | 1 |
| Farmer Emigrants | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| India Rubber Pipe Maker | 1 |
| Inn Keeper (Manager) | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Manager Of Shoe Shop | 1 |
| School | 1 |
| Shoe Finisher | 1 |
| Straw Plaiter | 1 |
| Traveller In Leather | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Muns surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Muns a modern rank of #36,457.
A locational surname likely derived from a place name referring to a wooded area or mountain.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Muns bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.