NameCensus.

UK surname

Moraes

A Spanish surname derived from the word "mora" meaning blackberry.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Logie and Blackness and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moraes is 102 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

2012

102 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Moraes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moraes surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moraes 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 #33,412
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 47 #32,975
1998 modern 48 #33,111
1999 modern 48 #33,233
2000 modern 42 #33,791
2001 modern 43 #33,576
2002 modern 43 #33,871
2003 modern 41 #34,113
2004 modern 40 #34,387
2005 modern 54 #33,433
2006 modern 62 #33,043
2007 modern 62 #33,346
2008 modern 70 #32,856
2009 modern 83 #31,950
2010 modern 89 #31,745
2011 modern 93 #31,169
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 93 #31,785
2014 modern 101 #30,855
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Moraes' 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 Kensington and Chelsea, Logie and Blackness, Brent, Wandsworth and Bracknell Forest. 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 Kensington and Chelsea 008 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Logie and Blackness Dundee City
3 Brent 032 Brent
4 Wandsworth 011 Wandsworth
5 Bracknell Forest 002 Bracknell Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moraes

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moraes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Moraes, 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 Moraes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Moraes 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Moraes is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Moraes 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

Moraes falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Moraes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Moraes

The surname Moraes has its origins in Portugal, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "morus," meaning mulberry tree, and may have initially referred to someone who lived near a mulberry grove or plantation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Moraes can be found in the Livro Velho de Linhagens, a Portuguese book of genealogies from the 13th century, which mentions several individuals with this surname. It is also possible that the name is related to the town of Morais in northern Portugal, which may have been named after a person or derived from the same Latin root.

In the 15th century, during the Age of Discovery, Portuguese explorers and settlers played a significant role in the colonization of various parts of the world, including Brazil. It is likely that individuals bearing the surname Moraes were among those who ventured to the New World, contributing to the spread of the name across the Portuguese empire.

One notable figure with the surname Moraes was Prudente José de Moraes e Barros (1841-1902), who served as the first civilian president of Brazil from 1894 to 1898. Another prominent individual was the Brazilian writer and poet Vinicius de Moraes (1913-1980), known for his contributions to the bossa nova movement and for co-authoring the play "Black Orpheus."

In the arts, one cannot overlook the celebrated Brazilian painter and engraver Candido Portinari (1903-1962), whose full name was Candido Torquato Portinari Moraes. His murals and paintings, depicting scenes of everyday life and the struggles of the Brazilian people, have become iconic representations of Brazilian culture.

Furthermore, the name Moraes has been associated with several notable figures in the field of sports. For instance, Ronaldo Moraes da Silva (born 1986) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), while Leandro Moraes (born 1989) is a Brazilian professional basketball player who has represented his country in international competitions.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Moraes throughout history, contributing to its global recognition and legacy across various fields and disciplines.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Moraes surname: questions and answers

How common is the Moraes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Moraes a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Moraes surname mean?

A Spanish surname derived from the word "mora" meaning blackberry.

What does the Moraes map show?

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