NameCensus.

UK surname

Moreau

A French toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a small hill or mound.

In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Moreau surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 215, ranked #18,670, up from #29,218 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moreau is 215 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 593.5%.

1881 census count

31

Ranked #29,218

Modern count

215

2016, ranked #18,670

Peak year

2016

215 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moreau had 31 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,218 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016, ranked #18,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 31 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Moreau surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moreau surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Moreau 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 31 #29,218
1891 historical 10 #33,355
1901 historical 31 #30,616
1911 historical 18 #31,542
1997 modern 173 #19,295
1998 modern 174 #19,729
1999 modern 181 #19,380
2000 modern 184 #19,190
2001 modern 179 #19,215
2002 modern 187 #19,083
2003 modern 183 #19,152
2004 modern 186 #19,059
2005 modern 189 #18,807
2006 modern 190 #18,898
2007 modern 198 #18,600
2008 modern 200 #18,640
2009 modern 189 #19,727
2010 modern 199 #19,515
2011 modern 191 #19,871
2012 modern 190 #19,864
2013 modern 203 #19,327
2014 modern 210 #19,064
2015 modern 204 #19,331
2016 modern 215 #18,670

Geography

Back to top

Where Moreaus 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 Sedgemoor, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Isle of Wight, Cambridge and Huntingdonshire. 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 Sedgemoor 013 Sedgemoor
2 Newcastle-under-Lyme 005 Newcastle-under-Lyme
3 Isle of Wight 013 Isle of Wight
4 Cambridge 007 Cambridge
5 Huntingdonshire 016 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Moreau

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Moreau

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Moreau is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Moreau 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

Moreau falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Moreau 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 Moreau, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Moreau

The surname Moreau has its origins in France, originating sometime in the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old French word "mor", meaning dark or brown, and refers to someone with a dark complexion or hair color. It may also have been used as a nickname for someone with a swarthy or brooding demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the 12th century Cartulaire de Marmoutier, a collection of charters and records from the Abbey of Marmoutier in Tours, France. The name is also found in various medieval tax rolls and censuses from regions such as Normandy and Anjou.

The Moreau name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Jean Moreau (c. 1390-1449), a French theologian and professor at the University of Paris. Another prominent figure was Paul Moreau (1571-1632), a French lawyer and jurist who served as a counselor in the Parlement of Paris.

In the realm of literature, the name is closely tied to Jacques Moreau (1702-1784), a French playwright and author known for his comedic works, including "Le Joueur" (The Gambler). Another notable bearer of the name was Jean Victor Moreau (1763-1813), a celebrated French general during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, known for his victories at Hohenlinden and Oberhausen.

The name Moreau has also been associated with various place names in France, such as Moreau-de-Saint-Merry in Normandy and Moreau-de-Bretagne in Brittany. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, reflecting settlements or lands owned by individuals bearing the Moreau name.

Other notable figures with the Moreau surname include Henri Moreau (1834-1917), a French sculptor known for his works in the Beaux-Arts style; Gustave Moreau (1826-1898), a prominent French Symbolist painter whose works included "The Apparition" and "Salome Dancing before Herod"; and Émile Moreau (1838-1923), a French astronomer and director of the Paris Observatory.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Moreau families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moreau 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. Middlesex leads with 8 Moreaus recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.49x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 8 2.49x
Lancashire 6 1.57x
Surrey 6 3.83x
Durham 4 4.18x
Midlothian 4 9.28x
Channel Islands 2 20.99x
Devon 1 1.49x
Essex 1 1.58x
Yorkshire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingston On Thames in Surrey leads with 6 Moreaus recorded in 1881 and an index of 159.57x.

Place Total Index
Kingston On Thames 6 159.57x
Liverpool 6 25.88x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 23.07x
Gateshead 4 55.87x
St Anne Soho London 3 163.04x
Chiswick 2 113.64x
Kensington London 1 5.59x
Leeds 1 5.56x
Sidmouth 1 263.16x
St George Hanover 1 23.81x
St Helier 1 32.26x
St Marylebone London 1 5.82x
St Saviour 1 188.68x
West Ham 1 7.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Augustine 1
Ennemonde 1
Fany 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Adolphus 2
Benjamin 2
Louis 2
Bertram 1
Ernest 1
Eugene 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.G. 1
Henry 1
James 1
Jean 1
Leon 1
William 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 Moreau households.

FAQ

Moreau surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moreau surname in 1881?

In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Moreau surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moreau surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016. That gives Moreau a modern rank of #18,670.

What does the Moreau surname mean?

A French toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a small hill or mound.

What does the Moreau map show?

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