Explore the Family Name Molyneux
The meaning of Molyneux
1. English and Irish (of Norman origin): occupational name from Old French molineux ‘miller’, a variant of molineur, molinier. See Mulliner. 2. English and Irish (of Norman origin): habitational name from an unidentified French placename. 3. Irish: adoption for Mulligan. 4. Irish (Antrim and Kerry): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Maol an Mhuaidh ‘descendant of Maol an Mhuaidh (follower of the noble)’. History: A family of this name (see 2 above) held the titles Molyneux Baronet (1611–28), Viscount Molyneux (1626–71), and Earl of Sefton (1671–1972). They trace their descent from William de Molines, a Norman who is said to have been recorded in the Battle Abbey Roll.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Molyneux in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Molyneux saw a slight increase in the decade between 2000 and 2010. Ranked at 23,501 in 2000, its position remained nearly static in 2010 with a rank of 23,500. The number of individuals bearing the name increased by 7.24%, from 1,008 people in 2000 to 1,081 in 2010. Proportionally, this equates to approximately 0.37 out of every 100k individuals in both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #23,501 | #23,500 | 0% |
| Count | 1,008 | 1,081 | 7.24% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.37 | 0.37 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Molyneux
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals subtle shifts in the composition of those carrying the Molyneux surname between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the vast majority (93.65%) identified as White, a proportion that slightly grew to 94.17% in 2010. Ethnicities such as Asian/Pacific Islander appeared within the Molyneux population by 2010, accounting for 1.02%. On the other hand, the proportions identifying as Hispanic or Black decreased by almost a third, from 2.68% in 2000 to 1.85% in 2010. There were no recorded instances of individuals of Two or more races or American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnic identities within this surname group during these periods.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.65% | 94.17% | 0.56% |
| Hispanic | 2.68% | 1.85% | -30.97% |
| Black | 2.68% | 1.85% | -30.97% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.02% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |