Milligan Surname

11,670th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 48,142 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Scotland

Milligan Surname Definition:

These names are in Gaelic Maolagan, Olr. Maelecan, a double diminutive of moel (-oc-an), 'the little bald or shaven one,' probably in allusion to the ancient Gaelic tonsure. The first form is common in Galloway. Macrath ap Molegan of Wyggetone, who rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p.

Read More About This Surname

Milligan Surname Distribution Map

By incidenceBy frequencyBy rank
Incidence (high to low)Incidence (low to high)Alphabetic A-ZAlphabetic Z-ARank (high to low)Rank (low to high)
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States30,1841:12,0081,494
England4,9011:11,3691,680
Scotland3,5961:1,489270
Canada3,5781:10,2981,535
Australia2,7061:9,9761,483
Northern Ireland1,1351:1,626349
New Zealand5421:8,3551,433
South Africa5041:107,49512,963
Ireland1401:33,6352,836
Wales1301:23,8042,501
Ecuador801:198,8237,830
United States Virgin Islands521:2,123361
Russia481:3,002,564162,760
Germany441:1,829,670103,431
Dominican Republic391:267,5119,432
Belize381:9,3551,258
Spain341:1,375,06044,096
Jamaica321:89,6863,941
Thailand281:2,522,798271,580
Denmark271:209,06416,975
France231:2,887,944200,772
Switzerland221:373,31428,226
Peru211:1,513,53022,524
Netherlands211:804,15159,518
Singapore171:323,98313,856
Argentina161:2,671,463118,579
Italy151:4,077,113105,022
Qatar121:196,50026,891
Brazil111:19,461,303329,560
Malaysia101:2,949,422111,742
Isle of Man101:8,5821,778
Philippines101:10,123,822213,993
Norway91:571,36544,190
Guam81:20,0153,029
Monaco71:5,295668
Mexico61:20,687,70153,861
Greece51:2,215,95891,893
Jersey51:19,8403,614
Poland41:9,502,187181,606
Ghana41:6,755,17315,406
Fiji41:223,5982,635
Czechia41:2,658,367127,801
Indonesia31:44,083,065698,220
United Arab Emirates31:3,054,09190,853
Kenya31:15,393,30077,493
Sweden31:3,282,252190,759
China31:455,773,85521,925
Saint Lucia21:89,3902,918
Belarus21:4,750,530139,516
Nigeria21:88,571,379625,098
Benin21:5,167,80184,334
Japan21:63,922,14662,827
Barbados21:143,7241,981
Zambia21:7,924,96145,994
Zimbabwe21:7,719,120118,432
Colombia21:23,887,03632,612
Tonga11:107,313791
Turkey11:77,821,422191,047
South Korea11:51,240,2568,015
Bahrain11:1,348,60810,432
Madagascar11:23,649,8379,420
Finland11:5,496,70284,025
Bolivia11:10,616,43417,077
Cambodia11:15,487,14614,824
Cape Verde11:529,6426,792
Cayman Islands11:63,8932,384
Chile11:17,616,47493,597
Costa Rica11:4,780,06913,345
Croatia11:4,228,60499,289
Cyprus11:884,87613,055
Belgium11:11,496,644167,539
Estonia11:1,321,80440,178
Saudi Arabia11:30,855,81763,028
Hong Kong11:7,335,48316,643
India11:767,065,3821,851,717
Iraq11:35,021,65431,813
Israel11:8,557,634182,558
Kazakhstan11:17,682,496204,010
Kuwait11:3,800,69427,187
Kyrgyzstan11:5,972,65499,197
Panama11:3,912,25817,195
Romania11:20,077,87089,414
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines11:112,6591,704
Show All Nations
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland9971:4,443764
Incidence (high to low)Incidence (low to high)Alphabetic A-ZAlphabetic Z-ARank (high to low)Rank (low to high)
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Scotland2,0331:1,841338
England1,4601:16,6952,436
Wales361:43,5672,298
Guernsey41:8,1641,328
Isle of Man11:54,2692,077
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States4,7271:10,6241,392

Milligan (106) may also be a first name.

Milligan Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

These names are in Gaelic Maolagan, Olr. Maelecan, a double diminutive of moel (-oc-an), 'the little bald or shaven one,' probably in allusion to the ancient Gaelic tonsure. The first form is common in Galloway. Macrath ap Molegan of Wyggetone, who rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 198) is apparently the first of the name recorded in Scotland. As Makerathe Molgan he had his lands restored to him in the same year (ibid., p. 218). Cymric 'ap,' afterwards reduced to A is possibly due to Cymric influence. Thomas Ameligane, a witness in Dumfries, 1477 ( Edgar, p. 227), may be Thomas Arnul-igane, chaplain and notary public at Wigtown, 1485 (RMS., II, 1024). The name also appears in Perth in 1408 as Milikyn (Milne, p. 58). George Aruligane was burgess of Dumfries, 1510 (RMS., II, 3513), and a Schir William Amuligan, a cleric, is mentioned in the same year (Bucc. MS S., p. 14). Thomas Amuligane, a follower of the earl of Cassilis, had a respite for murder committed by him in 1526 (RSS., I, 3386), Cuthbert Amullekyne of Dempstartoune was "dilaitit of the cryme of adulterie" in 1578 (Trials, I, p. 78), and John Amiligane witnessed a sasine in Dumfries, 1595 (RRM., III, p. 394). John Myllikin, a 'vabster aid and puir,' was buried in Dysart, Fife, at public expense, 1593 (Dysart, p. 41), another Johnne Arnulliekin was hanged in 1612 (Trials, III, p. 223), and John Mulligane, polentarius (i.e. maltster), burgess of Dumfries, was retoured heir in lands in regality of Lyncluden, 1630 (Retours, Kirkcudbright, 183). James Myllighame of Blakmyre was retoured heir of his father in lands in parish of Balmaclellane and Dairy, 1633 (ibid., 200). Robert Mulligane, 'ludimagister' (i.e. master of the play), burgess of Edinburgh, 1649 (Inquis., 3556) is most probably Robert Mulligin designated vulgar (i.e. public) schoolmaster who was married in 1656 (Edinb. Marr.). Thomas Mulliken in Cargat was charged with hamesucken in 1672 (Just. Rec., II, p. 84). Major James Milliken purchased part of the ancient barony of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, in 1733, and gave the estate the name of Milliken (Stodart, II, p. 260). Robert Andrews Milliken, the American scientist, is of Scottish descent. Millagain 1684, Milligain 1694, Mulikyn 1480, Mulligine 1668, Mullikine 1662. There is a name (Mulekyn) in the Exchequer Rolls which might be thought a variant of this. The bearers of II, however, were Italians. In 1364 there is an entry of payment to Donatus Mulekyn for ornaments for the king (ER., II, p. 160), and in the thirty-second year of David 11 (1361-62) James or Jacobus Mulekyn "of Florence," probably a relative, was master moneyer (monetarius) in Edinburgh (ibid., II p. xciii).

— The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

(Celtic) for the Irish 0'Maoil(e)a- cáin, O’Maoil(e)agáin, Grandson or Descendant of Maolacán, Maolagán = the Little Bald or Shaven One, Monk, Disciple [Irish maol, bald, &c. + the double diminutive suff. -ac-án, (for -óc-án,) -ag-án (for -óg-án]

— Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

Ó Maoileagáin This name is numerous in Antrim and south Derry where it originated.

MIF 179

— A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

Ó Maoileagáin This name is numerous in Antrim and south Derry where it originated.

MIF 179

— A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

(Irish) Grandson of Maolagan (little, bald one).

— Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

O'Milligan, an ancient Irish name.

— Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

From the Dutch, Milligen; a personal name.

— British Family Names: Their Origin and Meaning (1903) by Henry Barber
DNA test information
Display Statistics on:

Milligan Demographics

Average Male Milligan Height

177.69 cm

Average male height (US):
175.3 cm
Sample size: 500 (2014)

Average Female Milligan Height

162.31 cm

Average female height (US):
161.5 cm
Sample size: 81 (2014)

Sample is predominantly from Anglosphere countries

View the tallest/shortest surnames in the world

Milligan Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Milligan Come From? nationality or country of origin

The last name Milligan (Marathi: मेलीगेन, Russian: Миллиган) is found in The United States more than any other country or territory. It can also appear as a variant:. For other potential spellings of this surname click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Milligan? popularity and diffusion

The surname Milligan is the 11,670th most prevalent family name worldwide It is held by approximately 1 in 151,376 people. The last name occurs mostly in The Americas, where 68 percent of Milligan live; 68 percent live in North America and 67 percent live in Anglo-North America. Milligan is also the 915,176th most frequent first name at a global level, held by 106 people.

This last name is most frequent in The United States, where it is carried by 30,184 people, or 1 in 12,008. In The United States Milligan is mostly found in: Texas, where 10 percent are found, California, where 8 percent are found and Florida, where 5 percent are found. Aside from The United States this surname is found in 82 countries. It is also common in England, where 10 percent are found and Scotland, where 7 percent are found.

Milligan Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The frequency of Milligan has changed through the years. In The United States the number of people carrying the Milligan surname increased 639 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it increased 336 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Scotland it increased 177 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Ireland it contracted 86 percent between 1901 and 2014 and in Wales it increased 361 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Milligan Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those bearing the surname is chiefly Anglican (44%) in Ireland and Orthodox (100%) in Russia.

In The United States Milligan are 11.96% more likely to be registered with the Republican Party than The US average, with 58.73% registered to vote for the political party.

The amount Milligan earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 64.6% more than the national average, earning 569,654 kr per year; in Peru they earn 899.83% more than the national average, earning S/. 193,817 per year; in South Africa they earn 116.59% more than the national average, earning R 514,692 per year; in United States they earn 2.46% less than the national average, earning $42,087 USD per year and in Canada they earn 2.61% more than the national average, earning $50,982 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

Incidence (high to low)Incidence (low to high)Alphabetic A-ZAlphabetic Z-ASimilarity (high to low)Similarity (low to high)Prevalent jurisdiction A-ZPrevalent jurisdiction Z-A
SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Millligan945/
Millighan943/
Milligain942/
Mgilligan941/
Milligann941/
Millicgan941/
Mlligan931/
Melligan88197/
Millegan88188/
Milligam887/
Milligon883/
Millugan882/
Mülligan882/
Millygan881/
Milliganová841/
Mülligann8215/
Meulligan820/
Milligham820/
Millighon820/
Melligane820/
Mlighan800/
Melligon7510/
Millegam752/
Mellegan752/
Müllegan751/
Mellighausen701/
Show All Similar Surnames

Milligan Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Milligan in the Marathi language
मेलीगेनmeligena-
Milligan in the Russian language
Миллиганmilligan-

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Milligan Reference & Research

Milligan/Milliken FamilyTree DNA Group - A group collating DNA test results for those who bear the surname, includes results of DNA tests and discussions.

Milligan/Milliken FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Milligan
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis