NameCensus.

UK surname

Morais

A Portuguese toponymic surname indicating someone from a place with mulberry trees or deriving from the Latin "maurus" meaning "dark-skinned."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Wandsworth and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morais is 390 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

390

2016, ranked #12,089

Peak year

2016

390 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 390 in 2016, ranked #12,089.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Morais surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morais surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morais 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 10 #32,589
1891 historical 13 #33,099
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 126 #23,461
1998 modern 145 #22,139
1999 modern 154 #21,455
2000 modern 163 #20,657
2001 modern 158 #20,788
2002 modern 197 #18,474
2003 modern 190 #18,683
2004 modern 209 #17,706
2005 modern 225 #16,831
2006 modern 263 #15,215
2007 modern 279 #14,732
2008 modern 322 #13,487
2009 modern 351 #12,940
2010 modern 358 #13,001
2011 modern 326 #13,775
2012 modern 354 #12,851
2013 modern 364 #12,790
2014 modern 375 #12,578
2015 modern 379 #12,385
2016 modern 390 #12,089

Geography

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Where Morais' 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 Brent, Wandsworth, Camden, Trafford and Luton. 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 Brent 031 Brent
2 Wandsworth 024 Wandsworth
3 Camden 015 Camden
4 Trafford 004 Trafford
5 Luton 021 Luton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morais

These lists show first names that appear often with the Morais 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 Morais

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Morais surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Morais 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Morais 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

Morais 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

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

Meaning and origin of Morais

The surname MORAIS originated in Portugal and has its roots in the Iberian Peninsula. The name is derived from the Portuguese word "moraes," which means "dweller near a mulberry tree" or "dweller near the moors." It is believed that the name was initially given to people who lived near mulberry trees or in areas inhabited by the Moors.

The earliest recorded instances of the name MORAIS can be traced back to the 12th century in Portugal. Some historical records suggest that the name appeared in various manuscripts and documents from that period, including land deeds and tax records. One notable example is the mention of a certain Fernão de Morais in the Livro Velho de Linhagens, a Portuguese genealogical work from the 13th century.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the name MORAIS became more widespread as Portugal expanded its territories and influence. Several notable individuals with this surname emerged during this time, including João de Morais (1484-1570), a Portuguese explorer and navigator who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his famous voyage around the world.

Another prominent figure was Cristóvão de Morais (1516-1581), a Portuguese humanist scholar and historian who wrote extensively on the history of Portugal and its overseas colonies. His work, Crónica dos Feitos da Guiné, published in 1556, is considered an important account of the Portuguese exploration and colonization of West Africa.

In the 17th century, the name MORAIS was also found in Brazil, as Portuguese settlers and colonists brought the surname to the New World. One example is Pedro de Morais Garça (1580-1651), a Portuguese-Brazilian landowner and entrepreneur who played a significant role in the early colonization and development of Brazil.

Another notable figure from this period was Manuel de Morais (1650-1715), a Portuguese Jesuit missionary and explorer who traveled extensively throughout South America, including the Amazon region. His writings and accounts provided valuable insights into the indigenous cultures and geography of the areas he visited.

As the Portuguese empire expanded and the name MORAIS spread across different regions, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. Some alternative spellings include Moraes, Morães, and Moraiz.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Morais surname: questions and answers

How common is the Morais surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 390 in 2016. That gives Morais a modern rank of #12,089.

What does the Morais surname mean?

A Portuguese toponymic surname indicating someone from a place with mulberry trees or deriving from the Latin "maurus" meaning "dark-skinned."

What does the Morais map show?

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