NameCensus.

UK surname

Morales

Derived from the Spanish word "moral," referring to a mulberry tree, likely indicating someone who lived near such trees.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Morales surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 493, ranked #10,082, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hammersmith and Fulham, Swansea and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morales is 493 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16333.3%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

493

2016, ranked #10,082

Peak year

2016

493 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morales had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 493 in 2016, ranked #10,082.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 65 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Morales surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morales surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morales 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 28 #30,405
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 16 #32,260
1911 historical 65 #26,343
1997 modern 184 #18,580
1998 modern 208 #17,693
1999 modern 215 #17,425
2000 modern 221 #17,089
2001 modern 215 #17,159
2002 modern 237 #16,413
2003 modern 248 #15,695
2004 modern 248 #15,779
2005 modern 254 #15,480
2006 modern 279 #14,577
2007 modern 297 #14,135
2008 modern 314 #13,720
2009 modern 367 #12,501
2010 modern 420 #11,536
2011 modern 422 #11,359
2012 modern 445 #10,753
2013 modern 453 #10,774
2014 modern 474 #10,486
2015 modern 473 #10,440
2016 modern 493 #10,082

Geography

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Where Morales' 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 Hammersmith and Fulham, Swansea, Newham, Barnet and Richmond upon Thames. 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 Hammersmith and Fulham 002 Hammersmith and Fulham
2 Swansea 006 Swansea
3 Newham 025 Newham
4 Barnet 036 Barnet
5 Richmond upon Thames 002 Richmond upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morales

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

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

Morales 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

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

Meaning and origin of Morales

The surname Morales is of Spanish origin, deriving from the Latin word "moralis" which means moral or ethical. It first emerged in the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages.

The name Morales is believed to have originated as a descriptive surname, referring to individuals who were perceived as virtuous or morally upright. It may have been given to individuals who held respected positions within the church or those known for their ethical conduct.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Morales can be found in medieval Spanish records and documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. During this period, the Reconquista, the effort to reclaim Iberian territories from Moorish rule, was ongoing, and many individuals played significant roles in this historical event, potentially contributing to the widespread adoption of the surname.

One notable early bearer of the Morales surname was Pedro Morales, a 14th-century Spanish nobleman and military commander who fought in the service of King Alfonso XI of Castile during the Reconquista. His exploits were chronicled in historical accounts of the time.

Another prominent figure was Juan Morales, a 15th-century Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. Morales played a crucial role in the early exploration and colonization of the Caribbean islands.

In the 16th century, the Morales name gained further prominence with the birth of Ambrosio Morales (1513-1591), a renowned Spanish historian and scholar who served as the official chronicler of King Philip II. His works, which included detailed accounts of Spanish history, were highly influential in his time.

During the 17th century, the surname Morales was associated with Francisco Morales Cabrera (1637-1708), a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Philippine Islands from 1677 to 1681.

Another notable figure was María Morales (1635-1706), a revered Spanish nun and mystic who founded the Order of the Immaculate Conception in Quito, Ecuador. She was beatified by the Catholic Church in 1853.

As the Spanish empire expanded across the Americas and other parts of the world, the Morales surname spread to various regions, including Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean islands. Today, it remains a prevalent surname in many Spanish-speaking countries and among Hispanic communities worldwide.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morales families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morales 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 2 Morales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.77x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2 5.77x
Middlesex 1 3.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 2 Morales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 94.79x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 2 94.79x
Wapping London 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Caroline 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joseph 1

Top occupations

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 Morales households.

FAQ

Morales surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morales surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Morales surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morales surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 493 in 2016. That gives Morales a modern rank of #10,082.

What does the Morales surname mean?

Derived from the Spanish word "moral," referring to a mulberry tree, likely indicating someone who lived near such trees.

What does the Morales map show?

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