UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a moorland or marsh house.
In the 1881 census there were 150 people recorded with the Morehouse surname, ranking it #15,489 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 46, ranked #35,126, down from #15,489 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Doncaster, Kirkheaton and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morehouse is 252 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.3%.
1881 census count
150
Ranked #15,489
Modern count
46
2016, ranked #35,126
Peak year
1851
252 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Morehouse surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Morehouse surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 252 | #8,733 |
| 1861 | historical | 210 | #11,551 |
| 1881 | historical | 150 | #15,489 |
| 1891 | historical | 127 | #20,496 |
| 1901 | historical | 128 | #19,822 |
| 1911 | historical | 84 | #24,442 |
| 1997 | modern | 42 | #33,459 |
| 1998 | modern | 42 | #33,651 |
| 1999 | modern | 40 | #33,967 |
| 2000 | modern | 33 | #34,607 |
| 2001 | modern | 32 | #34,537 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 36 | #34,522 |
| 2004 | modern | 38 | #34,555 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 37 | #35,074 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 37 | #35,327 |
| 2009 | modern | 36 | #35,496 |
| 2010 | modern | 35 | #35,676 |
| 2011 | modern | 37 | #35,553 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 45 | #35,167 |
| 2014 | modern | 46 | #35,155 |
| 2015 | modern | 40 | #35,422 |
| 2016 | modern | 46 | #35,126 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Doncaster, Kirkheaton, St Pancras, Manchester and Almondbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doncaster | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Kirkheaton | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Almondbury | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Morehouse surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Morehouse, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Morehouse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Morehouse household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Morehouse is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Morehouse is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Morehouse, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MOREHOUSE originated in England during the late medieval period, deriving from a combination of the Old English words "mor" meaning "marsh" and "hus" meaning "house." It was initially a descriptive name, referring to individuals who lived in a house situated near or within a marshy area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname MOREHOUSE can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Moreshuse" in the county of Essex. This historic document suggests that the name was well-established in certain regions of England by the late 11th century.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, variations of the surname, such as "Morhous," "Morehous," and "Morhouse," were documented in various records, including parish registers and tax rolls. These variations reflect the evolution of spelling practices over time and regional linguistic differences.
Notably, the MOREHOUSE surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was Sir Thomas Morehouse (c. 1557-1629), an English politician and courtier who served as a member of parliament and held influential positions under King James I.
Another prominent bearer of the name was John Morehouse (1599-1676), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Piddletrenthide in Dorset and published several religious works during his lifetime.
In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the MOREHOUSE surname can be found in the colony of Virginia, where John Morehouse (c. 1630-1699) was a prominent landowner and served as a justice of the peace in Northampton County.
During the Revolutionary War era, Ezra Morehouse (1731-1808) was a notable figure, serving as a captain in the Connecticut militia and participating in several battles against British forces.
Another noteworthy bearer of the MOREHOUSE surname was Randolph Morehouse (1867-1932), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and later as a judge on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
While the MOREHOUSE surname has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the descriptive naming practices of medieval England, reflecting the geographic and linguistic diversity of the regions where it first emerged.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morehouse surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 95 Morehouses recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.55x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 95 | 6.55x |
| Staffordshire | 15 | 3.04x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 0.75x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 0.68x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 2.18x |
| Cumberland | 3 | 2.38x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.21x |
| Banffshire | 1 | 3.29x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.31x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 2.54x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.20x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.46x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.27x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 3.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Upperthong in Yorkshire leads with 20 Morehouses recorded in 1881 and an index of 1626.02x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Upperthong | 20 | 1626.02x |
| Norton In Doncaster | 11 | 3793.10x |
| Doncaster | 10 | 94.43x |
| Sheffield | 7 | 15.16x |
| Kingswinford | 6 | 33.46x |
| Wooldale | 6 | 243.90x |
| Almondbury | 5 | 71.33x |
| Hepworth | 5 | 847.46x |
| Keighley | 5 | 32.36x |
| Dewsbury | 4 | 26.90x |
| Fulstone | 4 | 377.36x |
| Heeley | 4 | 90.70x |
| Wolstanton Chesterton | 4 | 158.73x |
| Cumberworth | 3 | 405.41x |
| Falsgrave | 3 | 140.19x |
| Flimby | 3 | 283.02x |
| Glossop Dale | 3 | 27.96x |
| Accrington | 2 | 12.67x |
| Batley | 2 | 14.51x |
| Berkswich | 2 | 666.67x |
| Burnley | 2 | 13.68x |
| Chatburn | 2 | 512.82x |
| Clerkenwell London | 2 | 5.79x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 2.44x |
| Halifax | 2 | 9.40x |
| Lanteglos | 2 | 259.74x |
| Market Weighton Arras | 2 | 212.77x |
| Mile End Old Town | 2 | 8.66x |
| Spotland | 2 | 10.36x |
| Stretton | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 3.40x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 1 | 2.64x |
| Aston | 1 | 0.98x |
| Boyndie | 1 | 99.01x |
| Burton | 1 | 294.12x |
| Cheadle | 1 | 42.19x |
| Chesterfield | 1 | 11.64x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 3.39x |
| Hoo | 1 | 151.52x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 5.41x |
| Hyde | 1 | 10.49x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.71x |
| Longford | 1 | 476.19x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 1.86x |
| Rhuddlan | 1 | 28.90x |
| Simonburn | 1 | 476.19x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.28x |
| Walden Stubbs | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Walton On Hill | 1 | 10.64x |
| West Derby | 1 | 1.97x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Morehouse surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Morehouse surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Morehouse households.
FAQ
In 1881, 150 people were recorded with the Morehouse surname. That placed it at #15,489 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 46 in 2016. That gives Morehouse a modern rank of #35,126.
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a moorland or marsh house.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Morehouse bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.