NameCensus.

UK surname

Maurice

Derived from the Latin name Mauritius, meaning "dark-skinned," likely referring to someone with a darker complexion or from Mauritania.

In the 1881 census there were 324 people recorded with the Maurice surname, ranking it #9,214 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 525, ranked #9,654, down from #9,214 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Bradford and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maurice is 541 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.0%.

1881 census count

324

Ranked #9,214

Modern count

525

2016, ranked #9,654

Peak year

2014

541 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maurice had 324 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,214 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 525 in 2016, ranked #9,654.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 451 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Maurice surname distribution map

The map shows where the Maurice surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Maurice surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maurice over time

The 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 307 #7,502
1861 historical 301 #8,412
1881 historical 324 #9,214
1891 historical 373 #9,367
1901 historical 420 #9,169
1911 historical 451 #8,489
1997 modern 474 #9,693
1998 modern 499 #9,600
1999 modern 505 #9,587
2000 modern 507 #9,530
2001 modern 495 #9,544
2002 modern 529 #9,255
2003 modern 512 #9,328
2004 modern 515 #9,312
2005 modern 502 #9,419
2006 modern 482 #9,737
2007 modern 475 #9,936
2008 modern 481 #9,930
2009 modern 506 #9,759
2010 modern 537 #9,543
2011 modern 531 #9,524
2012 modern 509 #9,734
2013 modern 533 #9,574
2014 modern 541 #9,517
2015 modern 527 #9,645
2016 modern 525 #9,654

Geography

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Where Maurices are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Bradford, Cheshire East, The Vale of Glamorgan and Aylesbury Vale. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 019 Wiltshire
2 Bradford 058 Bradford
3 Cheshire East 020 Cheshire East
4 The Vale of Glamorgan 002 Vale of Glamorgan
5 Aylesbury Vale 010 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maurice

These lists show first names that appear often with the Maurice surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maurice

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Maurice, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Maurice surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Maurice household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Maurice is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Maurice is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Maurice falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Maurice is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Maurice, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Maurice

The surname MAURICE is believed to have originated in France, deriving from the Roman personal name Mauritius. This name was derived from the Latin word "Maurus," meaning "Moorish" or "dark-skinned." The name gained popularity during the medieval period, particularly in northern France.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MAURICE surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Moricius" and "Morice." The name was associated with individuals who may have had darker complexions or connections to the Moorish people of North Africa.

In the 12th century, the surname MAURICE appeared in various records across France, including charters and tax rolls. Notably, a knight named Maurice de Berkeley was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1165.

During the 13th century, the MAURICE surname began to spread across Europe, with variations such as "Morice," "Moritz," and "Morys" appearing in historical documents from England, Germany, and other regions.

Some notable individuals with the surname MAURICE throughout history include:

1. Maurice de Sully (c. 1120-1196), a French churchman who served as the Bishop of Paris and oversaw the construction of the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral.

2. Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange (1567-1625), a prominent Dutch military leader and statesman during the Eighty Years' War against Spain.

3. Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), a French composer known for his orchestral works, such as "Boléro" and "Daphnis et Chloé."

4. Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-1949), a Belgian playwright and poet who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911.

5. Maurice Wilkins (1916-2004), a New Zealand-born British biophysicist who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 for his contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA.

The MAURICE surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Mauriceville in Texas, United States, and Mauricetown in New Jersey, further reflecting the historic prevalence of this name across different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maurice families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maurice surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 51 Maurices recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.57x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 51 1.57x
Cheshire 36 5.01x
Glamorgan 35 6.17x
Surrey 30 1.89x
Pembrokeshire 20 19.32x
Lancashire 17 0.44x
Kent 14 1.26x
Wiltshire 13 4.51x
Channel Islands 11 11.39x
Sussex 9 1.64x
Staffordshire 8 0.73x
Aberdeenshire 7 2.32x
Warwickshire 7 0.85x
Berkshire 6 2.45x
Carmarthenshire 6 4.37x
Essex 6 0.93x
Flintshire 6 6.85x
Hampshire 6 0.90x
Angus 5 1.66x
Devon 5 0.74x
Caernarfonshire 4 3.04x
Denbighshire 4 3.25x
Gloucestershire 4 0.63x
Yorkshire 4 0.12x
Somerset 3 0.57x
Lanarkshire 2 0.19x
Lincolnshire 2 0.38x
Merionethshire 2 3.35x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.46x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.48x
Dorset 1 0.47x
Durham 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.28x
Montgomeryshire 1 1.34x
Northamptonshire 1 0.33x
Northumberland 1 0.21x
Oxfordshire 1 0.50x
Shropshire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Macclesfield in Cheshire leads with 15 Maurices recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.92x.

Place Total Index
Macclesfield 15 46.92x
Clydey 12 967.74x
Marlborough St Peter St 11 743.24x
St Marylebone London 11 6.32x
Bollington In 10 156.25x
Kensington London 10 5.52x
Islington London 9 2.85x
Llandaff 8 42.40x
Merthyr Tydfil 8 14.67x
Croydon 7 7.94x
Lewisham 7 11.81x
Aston 6 2.65x
Chester Holy Trinity 6 178.04x
Lambeth 6 2.11x
Llandingat 6 192.31x
Llantwit Vairdre 6 94.04x
West Ham 6 4.23x
Westminster St John 6 15.12x
Battersea 5 4.17x
Camberwell 5 2.40x
Dundee 5 4.44x
Llysyfrane 5 2272.73x
Northop Caer Fallwch 5 1063.83x
Turriff 5 102.67x
Ystradyfodwg 5 10.05x
Bangor 4 31.47x
Brighton 4 3.61x
Cwmdu 4 57.89x
Rotherfield 4 82.64x
St Brelade 4 161.29x
St Clement 4 272.11x
St Giles Cripplegate 4 92.59x
Harnhill 3 3750.00x
Heaton Norris 3 13.64x
Northover 3 3000.00x
Penge 3 14.42x
Reading St Giles 3 12.51x
St Helier 3 9.55x
St Maurice Winchester 3 107.91x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 3.54x
Ardwick 2 5.74x
Broughton In Salford 2 5.66x
Chelsea London 2 2.04x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 3.26x
Congleton 2 16.09x
Folkestone 2 9.28x
Knutsford Nether 2 45.98x
Liverpool 2 0.85x
Llanfyrnach 2 178.57x
Llantwit Lower 2 40.08x
Middlesbrough 2 4.76x
Mitcham 2 19.94x
Morebath 2 400.00x
Paddington London 2 1.67x
Pendleton In Salford 2 4.34x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 3.83x
Salisbury St Thomas 2 87.72x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.72x
Tilehurst 2 40.49x
Westerham 2 78.13x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.18x
Broughton 1 20.66x
Chevening 1 82.64x
Chiswick 1 5.62x
Dallington 1 55.56x
Dullingham 1 107.53x
Ewart 1 1250.00x
Farnborough 1 61.73x
Farringdon 1 153.85x
Handsworth 1 3.69x
Leeds 1 0.55x
Llandrillo Yn Rhos 1 54.95x
Marcham 1 113.64x
Newington 1 0.83x
Pembroke St Mary 1 7.50x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 1 32.15x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.53x
St Luke London 1 1.91x
Toxteth Park 1 0.76x
West Bromwich 1 1.59x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Maurice surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Maurice surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 14
James 11
William 11
Thomas 10
George 8
Charles 6
Robert 6
David 5
Frederick 5
Albert 4
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Gerald 2
Henry 2
Hugh 2
Matthew 2
Mortimer 2
Oliver 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Dominick 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
Fredk.A.C. 1
Fredk.Harold 1
Geo.F. 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Horace 1
Jas.S. 1
Joseph 1
Lyttleton 1
Mark 1
Melvile 1
Morris 1
Parie 1
Pat 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Zevy 1

FAQ

Maurice surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maurice surname in 1881?

In 1881, 324 people were recorded with the Maurice surname. That placed it at #9,214 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maurice surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 525 in 2016. That gives Maurice a modern rank of #9,654.

What does the Maurice surname mean?

Derived from the Latin name Mauritius, meaning "dark-skinned," likely referring to someone with a darker complexion or from Mauritania.

What does the Maurice map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Maurice bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.