NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcmorris

Son of Morris, an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Muiris, meaning "choice" or "desirable."

In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Mcmorris surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, up from #31,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hartlepool, Blackburn and Colchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcmorris is 152 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 717.6%.

1881 census count

17

Ranked #31,170

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

2014

152 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcmorris had 17 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 62 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mcmorris surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcmorris surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcmorris 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 29 #28,082
1861 historical 62 #26,041
1881 historical 17 #31,170
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 31 #30,616
1911 historical 19 #31,416
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 145 #22,139
1999 modern 144 #22,405
2000 modern 136 #23,155
2001 modern 128 #23,665
2002 modern 126 #24,393
2003 modern 120 #24,909
2004 modern 118 #25,317
2005 modern 119 #25,193
2006 modern 119 #25,413
2007 modern 130 #24,389
2008 modern 129 #24,790
2009 modern 132 #24,929
2010 modern 147 #23,809
2011 modern 146 #23,736
2012 modern 145 #23,780
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 152 #23,631
2015 modern 146 #24,148
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Mcmorris' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hartlepool, Blackburn, Colchester, Deans Village and Whitecraigs and Broom. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hartlepool 014 Hartlepool
2 Blackburn West Lothian
3 Colchester 015 Colchester
4 Deans Village City of Edinburgh
5 Whitecraigs and Broom East Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcmorris

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcmorris

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Mcmorris surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mcmorris household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mcmorris is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcmorris 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

Mcmorris falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcmorris 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 Mcmorris, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcmorris

The surname McMorris is of Scottish origin, with roots that can be traced back to the 13th century. It is a combination of the Gaelic prefix "Mc," meaning "son of," and the personal name "Morris," which is derived from the ancient French name "Maurice."

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls, a series of historic documents from the late 13th century that contain the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. These documents mention individuals with the surname "McMorris" or similar spellings, such as "McMorice" or "McMoryce."

In the 15th century, the McMorris family was known to have settled in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. The name was often associated with certain place names in these areas, such as "Morrishill" or "Morristown," which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname McMorris was John McMorris (1565-1632), a Scottish clergyman and academic who served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1628 until his death. Another prominent individual was Sir Robert McMorris (1680-1745), a Scottish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1737 to 1742.

In the 18th century, the McMorris family began to spread beyond Scotland, with some members emigrating to Ireland and North America. One such individual was William McMorris (1720-1795), an Irish-born merchant and landowner who settled in Pennsylvania and became a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with the achievements of individuals like Sir Armar McMorris (1815-1892), a British army officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Windward Islands from 1879 to 1884.

Another notable figure was James McMorris (1845-1920), an American politician and lawyer who served as the Attorney General of Nebraska from 1893 to 1897 and played a significant role in the state's legal and political affairs.

Throughout its history, the surname McMorris has been associated with various professions, including clergy, law, politics, and military service, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcmorris surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcmorris surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Mcmorris surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcmorris surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Mcmorris a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Mcmorris surname mean?

Son of Morris, an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Muiris, meaning "choice" or "desirable."

What does the Mcmorris map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcmorris 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.