2000
#13,319
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,099
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.78
Rare Last name
Mullings
Derived from an Old English place name meaning "Moll's people," referring to a settlement founded by someone named Moll.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,368 Americans carry the last name Mullings. That puts it at #10,439 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.98 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 101,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mullings surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Mullings with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
3.4K
1 in 101,768
Census rank
#10,439
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,937 bearers of the surname Mullings in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.98 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 10439th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mullings, the largest self-reported group is Black at 67.0%. The next largest groups are White (20.8%) and Hispanic (6.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mullings
The surname Mullings has its roots in England, originating during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "mulling," which referred to a small hill or mound. This suggests that the name was likely first borne by someone who lived near a distinctive hill or elevated land feature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Mullings name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property conducted under the orders of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Molinges," indicating its longstanding presence in England.
Throughout the centuries, the Mullings surname has maintained a strong foothold in various regions of England, particularly in counties such as Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. It is believed that the earliest bearers of the name were likely associated with specific place names or landmarks that incorporated the word "mulling" or a similar spelling variation.
One notable figure bearing the Mullings surname was John Mullings, a prominent English merchant and explorer who lived during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is best known for his involvement in the colonization efforts in the Caribbean and for establishing settlements on various islands, including Bermuda.
Another individual of historical significance was Sir Samuel Mullings, a British naval officer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament in the 18th century. He played a crucial role in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and was recognized for his bravery and leadership.
In the realm of literature, the poet and playwright Robert Mullings gained recognition in the 17th century for his works, which included plays and poetic volumes. His contributions to English literature during the Restoration period have been widely studied and celebrated.
The Mullings surname also transcended geographical boundaries, with individuals bearing this name making their mark in other parts of the world. One such example is William Mullings, an early settler in the American colonies who arrived in Virginia in the mid-17th century and played a pivotal role in the establishment of new settlements.
Another noteworthy figure was James Mullings, a British military officer who served in the East India Company during the 18th century. His exploits and achievements in India have been well documented, providing insights into the colonial era and the company's activities in the region.
While the Mullings surname has its origins rooted in England, it has since spread worldwide, carried by individuals who have left their mark across various fields and endeavors throughout history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mullings
Among Census respondents with the surname Mullings, the largest self-reported group is Black at 67.0%. The next largest groups are White (20.8%) and Hispanic (6.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Mullings bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Mullings surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American67.0% · 1,967
- White20.8% · 612
- Hispanic or Latino6.4% · 189
- Two or more races4.6% · 136
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 22
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 11
Timeline
Historical Census data for Mullings
Mullings appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#11,555
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,720
+621 bearers (+29.6%)
Per 100,000 0.92
Rank movement Up 1,764 places
2020
#10,439
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,937
+217 bearers (+8.0%)
Per 100,000 0.98
Rank movement Up 1,116 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #13,319 | 2,099 | 0.78 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #11,555 | 2,720 | 0.92 | +621 bearers (+29.6%) | Up 1,764 places |
| 2020 | #10,439 | 2,937 | 0.98 | +217 bearers (+8.0%) | Up 1,116 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Mullings surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,555 | #10,439 | 9.7% |
| Count | 2,720 | 2,937 | 8.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.92 | 0.98 | 6.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Mullings bearers went from 2,720 to 2,937 (+8.0% change). The surname moved up 1,116 positions in the national ranking, going from #11,555 to #10,439.
FAQ
Mullings surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Mullings?
Name Census estimates that about 3,368 living Americans carry the surname Mullings. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 101,768 residents.
How common is Mullings?
Mullings ranks #10,439 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.98 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,937 people with the surname Mullings. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,368), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.98 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.98 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Mullings.
Has Mullings become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Mullings went from 2,720 recorded bearers to 2,937. That is an increase of 217 (+8.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #11,555 to #10,439.
What does the Census say about the background of Mullings?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mullings, the largest self-reported group is Black at 67.0%. The next largest groups are White (20.8%) and Hispanic (6.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Mullings in the 2020 Census, accounting for 67.0% (1,967 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Mullings appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (67.0%), White (20.8%), Hispanic (6.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Mullings (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Mullings mean?
Derived from an Old English place name meaning "Moll's people," referring to a settlement founded by someone named Moll. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Mullings (0.98 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Mullings?
Find out how many people have the surname Mullings on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.