NameCensus.

UK surname

Moores

One who lived on a moor or heath, or a variant of the Irish surname O'More.

In the 1881 census there were 2,479 people recorded with the Moores surname, ranking it #1,797 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,347, ranked #2,029, down from #1,797 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Stockport and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Halton and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moores is 3,639 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.0%.

1881 census count

2,479

Ranked #1,797

Modern count

3,347

2016, ranked #2,029

Peak year

2000

3,639 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moores had 2,479 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,797 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,347 in 2016, ranked #2,029.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,633 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Moores surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moores surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moores 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 1,213 #2,352
1861 historical 1,343 #2,131
1881 historical 2,479 #1,797
1891 historical 2,746 #1,719
1901 historical 3,096 #1,808
1911 historical 3,633 #1,437
1997 modern 3,400 #1,905
1998 modern 3,621 #1,865
1999 modern 3,631 #1,872
2000 modern 3,639 #1,864
2001 modern 3,559 #1,859
2002 modern 3,593 #1,886
2003 modern 3,482 #1,905
2004 modern 3,486 #1,899
2005 modern 3,381 #1,926
2006 modern 3,342 #1,954
2007 modern 3,391 #1,939
2008 modern 3,428 #1,934
2009 modern 3,553 #1,920
2010 modern 3,567 #1,948
2011 modern 3,445 #1,998
2012 modern 3,407 #1,973
2013 modern 3,437 #1,993
2014 modern 3,442 #2,008
2015 modern 3,387 #2,020
2016 modern 3,347 #2,029

Geography

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Where Moores' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Stockport, Manchester, Bolton-le-Moors and Ashton-under-Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Halton, Cheshire West and Chester and Salford. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 018 Cheshire East
2 Halton 013 Halton
3 Cheshire West and Chester 020 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Cheshire West and Chester 003 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Salford 001 Salford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moores

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moores

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Moores surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Moores household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Moores is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Moores is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Moores 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 Moores 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 Moores, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Moores

The surname Moores is of English and Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old English words "mor" meaning "marsh" or "moor" and "hors" meaning "horse." The name initially referred to someone who lived near a marsh or a moor where horses grazed.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Muris." Other early variations include "Mores" (1199), "Mores" (1273), and "Mours" (1327). These variations reflect the evolution of the name's spelling over time.

In the 13th century, the name Moores emerged in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Somerset, Devon, and Gloucestershire, where marshlands and moors were prevalent. The name was also found in other regions, such as Lancashire and Yorkshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Moores is Thomas Moores, who was born in Somerset in 1534. Another notable figure was Sir John Moores (1572-1629), an English landowner and Member of Parliament from Wiltshire.

During the English Civil War (1642-1651), Captain Henry Moores (1616-1673) was a prominent figure who fought for the Parliamentarians. He later became a member of Oliver Cromwell's council and served as Governor of Dublin.

In the 18th century, Reverend Jonas Moores (1708-1776) was a notable English clergyman and author from Gloucestershire. He wrote several works on religious subjects and served as the rector of various parishes.

Another notable individual was John Moores (1783-1857), an English industrialist and entrepreneur from Lancashire. He founded the Moores Brewery and played a significant role in the development of the brewing industry in the region.

Over the centuries, the Moores surname has been carried by many notable individuals across various fields, including politics, military, religion, and business. The name's origins can be traced back to the marshlands and moors of medieval England, reflecting the rich history and diversity of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moores families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moores 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. Lancashire leads with 1,130 Moores' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.94x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,130 3.94x
Cheshire 617 11.57x
Dorset 89 5.61x
Staffordshire 79 0.97x
Middlesex 78 0.32x
Yorkshire 74 0.31x
Hampshire 68 1.37x
Flintshire 43 6.62x
Surrey 43 0.37x
Somerset 39 1.00x
Buckinghamshire 37 2.53x
Wiltshire 21 0.98x
Oxfordshire 18 1.21x
Hertfordshire 14 0.84x
Kent 14 0.17x
Sussex 13 0.32x
Berkshire 12 0.66x
Durham 12 0.17x
Warwickshire 12 0.20x
Bedfordshire 7 0.56x
Gloucestershire 7 0.15x
Worcestershire 7 0.22x
Cumberland 5 0.24x
Derbyshire 5 0.13x
Devon 5 0.10x
Essex 4 0.08x
Lanarkshire 4 0.05x
Lincolnshire 3 0.08x
Monmouthshire 3 0.17x
Shropshire 3 0.14x
Suffolk 3 0.10x
Brecknockshire 1 0.21x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.10x
Denbighshire 1 0.11x
Midlothian 1 0.03x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.18x
Northamptonshire 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 0.35x
Rutland 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 185 Moores' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.35x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 185 14.35x
Oldham 77 8.32x
Hulme 75 12.53x
Ashton Under Lyne 72 11.49x
Odd Rode 49 185.47x
Macclesfield 48 20.25x
Denton 46 72.40x
Salford 46 5.45x
Royton 44 50.17x
Chadderton 40 28.54x
Congleton 40 43.40x
Pendleton In Salford 39 11.42x
Chorlton On Medlock 36 7.90x
Hyde 35 22.24x
Runcorn 35 28.46x
Stockport 35 12.75x
Haughton 34 81.28x
Newton 32 14.48x
Audley 28 34.70x
Gorton 28 10.39x
Heaton Norris 28 17.16x
Great Bolton 27 7.11x
Bourton 25 360.23x
Bradford 24 17.88x
Yeovil 24 30.37x
Bollington In 19 40.02x
Kearsley 18 29.84x
Little Hulton 18 37.91x
Droylsden 17 18.17x
Rusholme 17 22.23x
Warrington 17 5.00x
Birkenhead 16 3.76x
Bronington 16 285.21x
Soyland 16 55.69x
Sutton In Macclesfield 16 28.91x
Widnes 16 7.74x
Altrincham 15 16.09x
Hurdsfield 15 45.70x
Norton 15 526.32x
Bury 13 3.97x
Dukinfield 13 5.27x
Leek Lowe 13 11.98x
Paddington London 13 1.46x
Tranmere 13 6.63x
Worsley 13 7.36x
Aston 12 0.72x
Cheadle 12 11.78x
Hollingworth 12 54.57x
Little Leigh 12 314.96x
Milton 12 97.40x
Southwark St George Martyr 12 2.47x
Clewer 11 14.80x
Everton 11 1.20x
Great Little Saughall 11 187.07x
Lymm 11 28.37x
Middleton In Oldham 11 12.80x
St Albans St Peter 11 19.58x
Tonge 11 18.28x
Whitchurch Canonicorum 11 124.72x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 10 52.58x
Haddenham 10 83.40x
Little Bolton 10 2.71x
Penketh 10 96.90x
Sherborne 10 21.41x
Silton 10 487.80x
St Marylebone London 10 0.78x
Weston In Runcorn 10 72.15x
Cranborne 9 46.95x
Crompton 9 11.02x
Hawarden Pentrobin 9 86.96x
Lt Milton 9 299.00x
Nether Hallam 9 2.78x
Romiley 9 59.80x
Farnworth 8 4.66x
Fulham London 8 2.28x
Holdenhurst 8 6.16x
Sandbach 8 17.59x
Sutton In Runcorn 8 257.23x
Wimborne 8 41.69x
Wolverhampton 8 1.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 200
Elizabeth 132
Sarah 122
Ann 47
Jane 42
Hannah 39
Annie 37
Eliza 37
Ellen 35
Alice 33
Martha 30
Emma 28
Margaret 28
Emily 26
Ada 23
Harriet 19
Florence 16
Maria 14
Caroline 11
Catherine 10
Charlotte 10
Frances 10
Clara 9
Lucy 9
Esther 8
Kate 8
Agnes 7
Anne 7
Eva 7
Fanny 7
Louisa 7
Betty 6
Harriett 6
Amelia 5
Bertha 5
Betsy 5
Jessie 5
Julia 5
Lillian 5
Sophia 5
Amy 4
Edith 4
Eleanor 4
Elizth. 4
Rachel 4
Rose 4
Selina 4
Matilda 3
Nancy 3
Olive 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 167
William 126
James 122
Thomas 114
George 85
Joseph 60
Henry 42
Charles 40
Robert 33
Samuel 32
Alfred 22
Arthur 21
Harry 21
Walter 21
Edward 17
Peter 17
Wm. 15
Albert 13
Frank 12
Edwin 11
Frederick 10
Richard 10
Fred 9
Herbert 9
David 8
Isaac 8
Abraham 7
Benjamin 7
Daniel 4
Ernest 4
Philip 4
Andrew 3
Edmund 3
Elijah 3
Fredk. 3
Joshua 3
Mark 3
Michael 3
Nathaniel 3
Silas 3
Stephen 3
Thos. 3
Abel 2
Eli 2
Job 2
Leonard 2
Matthew 2
Patrick 2
Percy 2
Wright 2

FAQ

Moores surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moores surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,479 people were recorded with the Moores surname. That placed it at #1,797 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moores surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,347 in 2016. That gives Moores a modern rank of #2,029.

What does the Moores surname mean?

One who lived on a moor or heath, or a variant of the Irish surname O'More.

What does the Moores map show?

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