NameCensus.

UK surname

Moorby

A surname originating from an English place name consisting of elements meaning "moor" and "farm" or "village."

In the 1881 census there were 418 people recorded with the Moorby surname, ranking it #7,718 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 669, ranked #7,997, down from #7,718 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Skipton, Giggleswick and Wakefield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craven, Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moorby is 741 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.0%.

1881 census count

418

Ranked #7,718

Modern count

669

2016, ranked #7,997

Peak year

2010

741 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moorby had 418 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,718 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 669 in 2016, ranked #7,997.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 638 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Moorby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moorby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moorby 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 233 #9,272
1861 historical 298 #8,485
1881 historical 418 #7,718
1891 historical 519 #7,208
1901 historical 638 #6,740
1911 historical 583 #6,986
1997 modern 692 #7,314
1998 modern 722 #7,299
1999 modern 721 #7,354
2000 modern 722 #7,330
2001 modern 710 #7,286
2002 modern 732 #7,240
2003 modern 704 #7,357
2004 modern 687 #7,509
2005 modern 662 #7,674
2006 modern 689 #7,457
2007 modern 686 #7,549
2008 modern 698 #7,498
2009 modern 712 #7,539
2010 modern 741 #7,439
2011 modern 704 #7,667
2012 modern 704 #7,574
2013 modern 719 #7,586
2014 modern 703 #7,744
2015 modern 683 #7,869
2016 modern 669 #7,997

Geography

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Where Moorbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Skipton, Giggleswick, Wakefield, Preston and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craven, Lancaster, Barrow-in-Furness, Wakefield and Preston. 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 Skipton Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Giggleswick Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craven 005 Craven
2 Lancaster 011 Lancaster
3 Barrow-in-Furness 004 Barrow-in-Furness
4 Wakefield 007 Wakefield
5 Preston 007 Preston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moorby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moorby

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Moorby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Moorby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Moorby 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

Moorby is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Moorby falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Moorby

The surname Moorby originated in England, with its earliest known recordings dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "mor" meaning "marsh" or "moor," and "by" meaning "village" or "settlement." This suggests that the name may have referred to individuals who resided in a village or community situated near a marshy or moorland area.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Moorby can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1197, which mentions a person named Willelmus de Morebi. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, indicating that individuals bearing this surname were already established in Yorkshire by the late 12th century.

The Moorby surname is also believed to have evolved from various place names across England, such as Moorby in Lincolnshire and Moorby in Yorkshire. These place names likely originated from similar Old English roots, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Moorby throughout history. One such individual was John Moorby (c. 1520 - c. 1580), an English Protestant reformer and Bishop of Norwich during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable figure was Richard Moorby (c. 1610 - 1678), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Walpole in Norfolk.

In the 17th century, the Moorby surname appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire. These records document the baptism of Thomas Moorby in 1622 and the marriage of William Moorby to Elizabeth Basforth in 1626.

During the 18th century, the Moorby surname can be found in various genealogical records and historical documents across northern England. For instance, the baptismal records of Holy Trinity Church in York mention the christening of John Moorby in 1730.

Another notable individual bearing this surname was Thomas Moorby (1776 - 1835), an English landowner and Justice of the Peace in Yorkshire. His son, William Moorby (1805 - 1863), was a prominent lawyer and served as the Recorder of Richmond, a judicial position in Yorkshire.

While the Moorby surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration patterns. However, its roots can be traced back to the marshlands and moorlands of northern England, where the name first emerged and evolved over several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moorby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moorby 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. Yorkshire leads with 177 Moorbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.41x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 177 4.41x
Lancashire 124 2.58x
Middlesex 39 0.96x
Derbyshire 17 2.68x
Worcestershire 10 1.89x
Westmorland 9 10.12x
Cheshire 8 0.90x
Lincolnshire 7 1.08x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.28x
Staffordshire 7 0.51x
Hampshire 4 0.48x
Surrey 2 0.10x
Anglesey 1 1.39x
Leicestershire 1 0.22x
Monmouthshire 1 0.34x
Warwickshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Skipton in Yorkshire leads with 31 Moorbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 245.64x.

Place Total Index
Skipton 31 245.64x
Beeston 25 615.76x
Preston 21 16.34x
Settle 16 521.17x
Bingley 13 50.88x
Blackburn 11 8.61x
Hammersmith London 11 11.03x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 11 59.01x
Airton 10 3571.43x
Livesey 10 118.62x
Oldham 10 6.45x
Walmersley Cum 10 130.21x
Manchester 9 4.17x
Long Preston 8 816.33x
Wapping London 8 258.90x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 7 48.04x
Baildon 7 92.72x
Chelsea London 7 5.74x
Handsworth 7 20.78x
Holbeck 7 26.34x
Ilkeston 7 39.39x
Levens 7 534.35x
North Scarle 7 985.92x
Northfield 7 69.79x
Eckington 6 38.96x
Enfield 6 22.59x
Liverpool 6 2.06x
St Botolph Aldgate 6 108.50x
Wigan 6 8.94x
Wray With Botton 6 689.66x
Bury 5 9.11x
Cottingham 5 57.80x
Gildersome 5 103.73x
Hunslet 5 7.99x
Lancaster 5 17.49x
Leck 5 1315.79x
Heaton Norris 4 14.63x
Holy Trinity 4 4.15x
Hulme 4 3.99x
Moreton 4 470.59x
Snenton 4 18.66x
Whittington 4 45.61x
Wortley In Bramley 4 12.59x
Barley With Wheatley 3 681.82x
Dudley 3 4.67x
Giggleswick 3 222.22x
Gisburn 3 410.96x
Portsea 3 1.84x
Upton By Birkenhead 3 348.84x
Accrington 2 4.58x
Bermondsey 2 1.66x
Bowling 2 5.03x
Kildwick 2 54.79x
Manningham 2 4.05x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.42x
Shipley 2 9.61x
Abergavenny 1 9.12x
Arkholme With Cawood 1 243.90x
Beetham 1 72.99x
Bolton By Bowland 1 103.09x
Brogden With Admirgill 1 666.67x
Castle Donnington 1 26.88x
Everton 1 0.65x
Garston 1 7.05x
Hellifield 1 169.49x
Horton In Bradford 1 1.60x
Kirkby In Ashfield 1 17.12x
Kirkby Lonsdale 1 41.49x
Knutsford Nether 1 18.52x
Llandegfan 1 68.49x
Lower Holker 1 108.70x
Marton 1 192.31x
Moss Side 1 3.96x
Padiham 1 8.61x
St Maurice Winchester 1 28.99x
Tottenham 1 1.55x
Wetherby 1 38.31x
Yealand Redmayne 1 344.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 23
Sarah 18
Jane 12
Ann 9
Alice 8
Eliza 8
Margaret 8
Annie 7
Ellen 7
Maria 6
Martha 6
Catherine 5
Fanny 5
Clara 4
Hannah 4
Anna 3
Barbara 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Agnes 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Grace 2
Isabella 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Asa 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Caroline 1
Elanor 1
Eliz. 1
Esther 1
F. 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Harriott 1
Henrietta 1
John 1
Letitia 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
M.A. 1
Margery 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 29
James 16
Joseph 15
Thomas 15
George 10
Henry 8
Robert 6
Richard 5
Arthur 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
Edward 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Leonard 2
Luke 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Allen 1
Clarance 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Exley 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Hastings 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Hy. 1
Josh 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Robt.H. 1
Septimus 1
Stanly 1
Stephen 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
Wellbury 1
Wilfred 1
Willie 1
Willy 1

FAQ

Moorby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moorby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 418 people were recorded with the Moorby surname. That placed it at #7,718 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moorby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 669 in 2016. That gives Moorby a modern rank of #7,997.

What does the Moorby surname mean?

A surname originating from an English place name consisting of elements meaning "moor" and "farm" or "village."

What does the Moorby map show?

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