NameCensus.

UK surname

Mordue

An Anglo-Norman French habitational surname referring to someone from Mordue, Northumberland.

In the 1881 census there were 329 people recorded with the Mordue surname, ranking it #9,107 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 618, ranked #8,511, up from #9,107 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Woodhorn and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, Northumberland and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mordue is 650 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.8%.

1881 census count

329

Ranked #9,107

Modern count

618

2016, ranked #8,511

Peak year

1999

650 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mordue had 329 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,107 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 618 in 2016, ranked #8,511.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 468 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mordue surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mordue surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mordue 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 215 #9,860
1861 historical 200 #12,005
1881 historical 329 #9,107
1891 historical 321 #10,520
1901 historical 445 #8,782
1911 historical 468 #8,247
1997 modern 624 #7,925
1998 modern 635 #8,050
1999 modern 650 #7,942
2000 modern 641 #8,015
2001 modern 622 #8,062
2002 modern 628 #8,180
2003 modern 587 #8,461
2004 modern 596 #8,389
2005 modern 572 #8,559
2006 modern 576 #8,542
2007 modern 580 #8,576
2008 modern 577 #8,660
2009 modern 597 #8,629
2010 modern 616 #8,611
2011 modern 615 #8,519
2012 modern 601 #8,595
2013 modern 631 #8,407
2014 modern 630 #8,453
2015 modern 623 #8,473
2016 modern 618 #8,511

Geography

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Where Mordues are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Woodhorn, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead, Northumberland and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Woodhorn Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
5 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 001 Gateshead
2 Northumberland 012 Northumberland
3 Gateshead 004 Gateshead
4 Gateshead 002 Gateshead
5 County Durham 019 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mordue

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mordue

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Mordue surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mordue household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mordue is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mordue is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mordue

The surname Mordue has its origins in England, specifically in the northern counties of Northumberland and Durham. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "mor" meaning moor or marsh, and "dun" meaning hill or down, suggesting that the name's earliest bearers lived in a marshy or moorland area near a hill.

The name first appeared in historical records as early as the 12th century, with references to individuals bearing the name Mordue or variations such as Mordun or Mordune. One of the earliest recorded instances is in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from 1195, which mentions a William de Mordun.

Interestingly, the Mordue surname is closely associated with the village of Mordue, located in the parish of Stannington, Northumberland. This village likely took its name from the same Old English roots as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the geographical features of the region.

In the 13th century, the Mordue family held lands and properties in Northumberland and Durham, as evidenced by various charters and deeds. One notable figure from this time was John de Mordue, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1256.

As the centuries progressed, the Mordue name continued to appear in various historical records, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of the late 17th century and the Parish Registers of Northumberland and Durham.

One prominent individual bearing the Mordue name was Robert Mordue (1715-1785), a successful merchant and landowner from Newcastle upon Tyne. He amassed significant wealth and played a vital role in the city's economic and social life.

Another noteworthy figure was John Mordue (1790-1864), a renowned architect from Newcastle upon Tyne. He designed several prominent buildings in the city, including the Royal Arcade and the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society building.

In the 19th century, the Mordue name gained further recognition with the establishment of the Mordue Brewery in Newcastle upon Tyne. Founded by John Mordue (1799-1876), the brewery became one of the largest and most successful in the region, contributing significantly to the local economy.

As the Mordue family spread across England and beyond, the name encountered various spellings such as Mordew, Mordieu, and Mordiu, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and transcription.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mordue families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mordue 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. Northumberland leads with 157 Mordues recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.88x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 157 32.88x
Durham 133 13.93x
Yorkshire 15 0.47x
Middlesex 8 0.25x
Surrey 6 0.38x
Kent 5 0.46x
Midlothian 3 0.70x
Devon 2 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westoe in Durham leads with 22 Mordues recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.65x.

Place Total Index
Westoe 22 40.65x
Longbenton 18 89.02x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 16 56.10x
Chirton 13 120.26x
Cowpen 13 118.29x
Witton Gilbert 13 344.83x
Gateshead 12 16.79x
Middlesbrough 11 26.56x
Holywell 10 406.50x
Jesmond 10 148.81x
Kyo 10 222.72x
Tanfield 10 88.11x
Tunstall 10 210.53x
Wolsingham 10 114.94x
Dawdon 8 68.14x
Mickley 8 529.80x
Pegswood 8 747.66x
Ovingham Whittle Spital 7 958.90x
Wallsend 7 46.24x
Westgate 7 23.67x
Alnwick 6 73.08x
Camberwell 6 2.93x
Earsdon 6 154.64x
St Pancras London 6 2.32x
Bedlington 5 31.37x
Elswick 5 13.12x
Lewisham 5 8.56x
Boldon 4 117.65x
Chester Le Street 4 54.57x
Elvet 4 58.06x
Whitburn 4 179.37x
Bishopwearmouth 3 3.66x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.73x
Eglingham 3 681.82x
Lorbottle 3 3000.00x
Ryton 3 89.55x
Skelton In Guisbrough 3 34.88x
Bishop Auckland 2 15.61x
Bishopsteignton 2 158.73x
Collierley 2 47.06x
Heworth 2 10.63x
Morpeth 2 35.65x
St Martin In Fields 2 10.41x
Tynemouth 2 7.82x
Whickham 2 22.78x
Whitley 2 129.87x
Bamburgh 1 263.16x
Byker 1 4.24x
Fulwell 1 172.41x
Great Aycliffe 1 108.70x
Haswell 1 14.62x
Haydon 1 38.31x
Heugh 1 285.71x
Iveston 1 22.73x
Normanby In 1 11.76x
Rochester 1 263.16x
Sandhoe 1 434.78x
Southwick 1 11.06x
Stockton On Tees 1 2.17x
Willington 1 18.12x
Winlaton 1 10.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Jane 21
Elizabeth 17
Ann 14
Isabella 12
Margaret 9
Sarah 5
Ellen 4
Barbara 3
Eleanor 3
Grace 3
Hannah 3
Alice 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Cathrine 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Dorathy 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Emma 1
Emmalenn 1
Esther 1
Francis 1
Georgino 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Isabel 1
Isabelle 1
James 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Margt. 1
May 1
Philis 1
Phillis 1
Sallie 1
Theodocia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 21
George 15
Thomas 15
Robert 11
James 8
Henry 7
Matthew 6
Charles 5
Edward 5
Joseph 5
Andrew 4
Samuel 4
Ralph 3
Alfred 2
Jacob 2
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Garven 1
Geo. 1
Lancelot 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Valentine 1

FAQ

Mordue surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mordue surname in 1881?

In 1881, 329 people were recorded with the Mordue surname. That placed it at #9,107 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mordue surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 618 in 2016. That gives Mordue a modern rank of #8,511.

What does the Mordue surname mean?

An Anglo-Norman French habitational surname referring to someone from Mordue, Northumberland.

What does the Mordue map show?

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