NameCensus.

UK surname

Moreira

A Portuguese toponymic surname referring to someone from any of several places called Moreira, meaning "sycamore grove."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Kensington and Chelsea and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moreira is 763 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

763

2016, ranked #7,188

Peak year

2016

763 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 763 in 2016, ranked #7,188.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Moreira surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moreira surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Moreira 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
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 112 #25,244
1998 modern 125 #24,198
1999 modern 165 #20,535
2000 modern 186 #19,055
2001 modern 190 #18,520
2002 modern 215 #17,487
2003 modern 240 #16,061
2004 modern 306 #13,720
2005 modern 358 #12,176
2006 modern 407 #11,087
2007 modern 437 #10,578
2008 modern 481 #9,930
2009 modern 547 #9,215
2010 modern 605 #8,738
2011 modern 582 #8,894
2012 modern 633 #8,242
2013 modern 663 #8,082
2014 modern 712 #7,670
2015 modern 724 #7,527
2016 modern 763 #7,188

Geography

Back to top

Where Moreiras 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 South Somerset, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Breckland and Croydon. 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 South Somerset 023 South Somerset
2 Kensington and Chelsea 007 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Lambeth 028 Lambeth
4 Breckland 015 Breckland
5 Croydon 004 Croydon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Moreira

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Moreira

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

Moreira 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

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

Meaning and origin of Moreira

The surname MOREIRA has its origins in Portugal, where it first emerged during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Portuguese word "moreira," which refers to a blackberry bush or bramble patch. It likely originated as a topographic surname, given to someone who lived near or owned land with an abundance of blackberry bushes or brambles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname MOREIRA can be found in the Inquirições de D. Afonso III, a 13th-century document that recorded the names of landowners and their properties in various regions of Portugal. This suggests that the name was already established among Portuguese families by the 13th century.

The MOREIRA surname is particularly prevalent in the northern regions of Portugal, such as the districts of Porto, Braga, and Viana do Castelo. This could indicate that the name originated in these areas, where blackberry bushes and brambles were abundant in the local terrain.

In the 15th century, a notable individual named João MOREIRA was mentioned in historical records as a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Porto. Another figure, Fernão MOREIRA, was a Portuguese explorer who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in the late 15th century.

During the 16th century, the MOREIRA surname gained prominence in Portugal's colonial territories. Álvaro MOREIRA was a Portuguese soldier and explorer who played a significant role in the colonization of Brazil, serving as the founder and first captain-major of the captaincy of São Vicente in the 1530s.

In the 17th century, Diogo MOREIRA was a renowned Portuguese architect who designed several notable churches and buildings in Lisbon and other parts of Portugal. His most famous work is the Baroque-style Igreja de São Roque in Lisbon, completed in the 1680s.

Another notable figure was Manuel MOREIRA, a Portuguese priest and scholar who lived in the 18th century. He authored several works on theology and philosophy and served as a professor at the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Portugal.

As the Portuguese Empire expanded, the MOREIRA surname also spread to other parts of the world, including Brazil, Africa, and Asia. Today, it remains a common surname in Portugal and among Portuguese diaspora communities worldwide, reflecting its deep historical roots and enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Moreira surname: questions and answers

How common is the Moreira surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 763 in 2016. That gives Moreira a modern rank of #7,188.

What does the Moreira surname mean?

A Portuguese toponymic surname referring to someone from any of several places called Moreira, meaning "sycamore grove."

What does the Moreira map show?

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