Millwood
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a mill in or by a wood.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,913 Americans carry the last name Millwood. That puts it at #12,444 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.85 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 117,664 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Millwood surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.9K
1 in 117,664
Census rank
#12,444
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,496 bearers of the surname Millwood in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.85 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12444th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Millwood, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.0%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Millwood
The surname MILLWOOD is of English origin, first appearing in the medieval period. It is a locational surname, deriving from the various places named Millwood in England, such as those found in Buckinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire. The name is composed of the Old English elements "myllen" meaning mill and "wudu" meaning wood, indicating that the original bearers of the name resided near a mill in a wooded area.
Records indicate that the earliest known spelling of the surname was "de Millenwude," found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1230. This early form highlights the locational origin of the name, with the prefix "de" signifying "from" or "of." As people began to adopt hereditary surnames, those residing near a mill in a wooded region would have taken on the name MILLWOOD or variations like MILWOOD or MILLEWODE.
The MILLWOOD name appeared in various historical documents, including the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a William de Milnewode was listed in Oxfordshire. Additionally, a John Milwood was recorded in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1381, further establishing the presence of the surname in different parts of England.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was Richard Millwood, born in 1564 in Staffordshire, England. He was a prominent landowner and local official in his community. Another notable bearer of the name was Thomas Millwood (1607-1668), a clergyman who served as the Rector of Penshurst in Kent.
In the 17th century, John Millwood (1623-1701) was a respected merchant and alderman in the City of London, while William Millwood (1640-1712) was a renowned botanist and author of "The Gardener's Dictionary," a landmark work on horticulture.
In the realm of literature, the name gained recognition through the works of Samuel Millwood (1725-1799), an English playwright and poet. His most famous work, "The Deserted Village," was a widely acclaimed and influential poem.
Throughout history, the MILLWOOD surname has been associated with various occupations and achievements, from landowners and clergymen to merchants and writers, further enriching its legacy and highlighting its enduring presence in English society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Millwood
Among Census respondents with the surname Millwood, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.0%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Millwood bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Millwood surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.7%
- Black or African American8.0%
- Two or more races2.1%
- Hispanic or Latino1.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Millwood surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,377 | #12,444 | -0.5% |
| Count | 2,302 | 2,496 | 8.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.85 | 0.85 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Millwood bearers went from 2,302 to 2,496 (+8.4% change). The surname moved down 67 positions in the national ranking, going from #12,377 to #12,444.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Millwood
FAQ
Millwood surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Millwood?
The surname Millwood holds position #12,444 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,913 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.85 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Millwood surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Millwood, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.0%) and Two or More Races (2.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.