UK surname
A surname potentially derived from the Old French word 'meurs' meaning walls or fortifications.
In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Mooris surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #31,761 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Broadway, Maiden Newton and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mooris is 275 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.2%.
1881 census count
13
Ranked #31,761
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1851
275 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mooris surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mooris surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 275 | #8,150 |
| 1861 | historical | 19 | #31,470 |
| 1881 | historical | 13 | #31,761 |
| 1891 | historical | 16 | #32,868 |
| 1901 | historical | 103 | #22,444 |
| 1911 | historical | 84 | #24,442 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Broadway, Maiden Newton, Manchester, St Giles-in-the-Fields and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broadway | Dorset |
| 2 | Maiden Newton | Dorset |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Giles-in-the-Fields | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mooris surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mooris, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mooris surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mooris household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mooris is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mooris is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mooris, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MOORIS is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the surname Morris, which itself is derived from the given name Maurice. Maurice comes from the Latin name Mauritius, meaning "dark" or "Moorish."
In medieval times, the name MOORIS was found mainly in the counties of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. It appeared in various early records such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of the late 17th century and the parish registers of several villages in these counties.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John MOORIS, born around 1580 in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire. Another early example is William MOORIS, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1642.
The MOORIS surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Morrishill in Gloucestershire and Morrisdale in Yorkshire. It is possible that the name may have originated as a locational surname for someone who lived near these or similar places.
Notable historical figures with the surname MOORIS include:
1. Richard MOORIS (1625-1702), an English clergyman and author from Gloucestershire. 2. Thomas MOORIS (1680-1748), a merchant and landowner from Oxfordshire. 3. Elizabeth MOORIS (1720-1784), a philanthropist from Gloucestershire who founded a school for poor children. 4. John MOORIS (1755-1822), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. 5. William MOORIS (1790-1867), a renowned architect from Gloucestershire who designed several churches and estates in the region.
While the MOORIS surname may not be as widespread as its parent name Morris, it has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, particularly in the western counties of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mooris surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 9 Mooris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.98x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 9 | 5.98x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 11.70x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 19.23x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middleton In Oldham in Lancashire leads with 5 Mooris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middleton In Oldham | 5 | 1111.11x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 4 | 167.36x |
| Nottingham St Nicholas | 2 | 869.57x |
| Eye | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 18.18x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mooris surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mooris surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mooris households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| ... | 1 |
| Dyer (Silk) | 1 |
| Iron Turner | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Pattern Card Maker | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Mooris surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Mooris a modern rank of #38,419.
A surname potentially derived from the Old French word 'meurs' meaning walls or fortifications.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mooris bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.