NameCensus.

UK surname

Moreland

A locational surname referring to someone from a moor or bog, or a place called Moreland.

In the 1881 census there were 660 people recorded with the Moreland surname, ranking it #5,439 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,320, ranked #4,547, up from #5,439 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Govan Combination and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Middlesbrough and Tameside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moreland is 1,336 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.0%.

1881 census count

660

Ranked #5,439

Modern count

1,320

2016, ranked #4,547

Peak year

2014

1,336 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moreland had 660 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,439 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,320 in 2016, ranked #4,547.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 847 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Moreland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moreland surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moreland 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 302 #7,606
1861 historical 378 #6,761
1881 historical 660 #5,439
1891 historical 721 #5,469
1901 historical 847 #5,377
1911 historical 634 #6,555
1997 modern 1,239 #4,585
1998 modern 1,270 #4,666
1999 modern 1,279 #4,662
2000 modern 1,281 #4,639
2001 modern 1,259 #4,623
2002 modern 1,287 #4,614
2003 modern 1,251 #4,640
2004 modern 1,252 #4,633
2005 modern 1,218 #4,694
2006 modern 1,225 #4,692
2007 modern 1,239 #4,698
2008 modern 1,259 #4,644
2009 modern 1,286 #4,657
2010 modern 1,315 #4,661
2011 modern 1,303 #4,632
2012 modern 1,298 #4,579
2013 modern 1,323 #4,582
2014 modern 1,336 #4,561
2015 modern 1,324 #4,562
2016 modern 1,320 #4,547

Geography

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Where Morelands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Govan Combination, London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Middlesbrough, Tameside, Corby and Gourock Central, Upper East and IRH. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 018 County Durham
2 Middlesbrough 007 Middlesbrough
3 Tameside 027 Tameside
4 Corby 002 Corby
5 Gourock Central, Upper East and IRH Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moreland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moreland

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Moreland is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Moreland is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Moreland falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Moreland

The surname Moreland originates from England, first appearing in the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words 'mor' meaning 'moor' or 'marsh' and 'land' meaning 'land'. The name was initially given to someone who lived on or near a marshy area or moorland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, where it appears as 'Morland'. The Hundred Rolls of 1275 also mention a 'John de Morland' in Oxfordshire. These early records indicate the name's widespread use across various parts of England.

The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Moreland. However, it does list several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the surname, such as 'Morelande' in Worcestershire and 'Morland' in Westmorland (now part of Cumbria).

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Moreland was Sir Samuel Moreland (1625-1695), an English mathematician, inventor, and diplomat. He was notable for his work on hydraulics and for inventing a fire extinguishing system.

Another notable figure with this surname was George Moreland (1763-1804), an English painter renowned for his rural scenes and depictions of everyday life in the late 18th century.

The surname Moreland has also been associated with several places, including the village of Moreland in Gloucestershire, and Morland in Cumbria, both of which likely contributed to the development of the surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname Moreland include John Moreland (c.1570-1619), an English composer and organist, and Thomas Moreland (1702-1784), an English clergyman and author.

Throughout its history, the surname Moreland has been subject to various spelling variations, such as Morland, Moorland, and Morlande, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic changes over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moreland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moreland 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 150 Morelands recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.96x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 150 1.96x
Lanarkshire 90 4.32x
Yorkshire 67 1.05x
Surrey 40 1.27x
Durham 33 1.72x
Kent 30 1.36x
Middlesex 29 0.45x
Kirkcudbrightshire 23 24.64x
Cumberland 19 3.42x
Northumberland 19 1.98x
Staffordshire 18 0.83x
Gloucestershire 16 1.27x
Cheshire 15 1.05x
Glamorgan 13 1.16x
Midlothian 13 1.51x
Ayrshire 12 2.49x
Argyllshire 9 5.01x
Derbyshire 9 0.89x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.04x
Stirlingshire 9 3.78x
Dunbartonshire 8 4.62x
Caernarfonshire 7 2.69x
Berkshire 4 0.83x
Wiltshire 4 0.70x
Lincolnshire 3 0.29x
Renfrewshire 3 0.60x
Devon 2 0.15x
Wigtownshire 2 2.34x
East Lothian 1 1.17x
Perthshire 1 0.35x
Somerset 1 0.10x
Suffolk 1 0.13x
Westmorland 1 0.71x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 44 Morelands recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.34x.

Place Total Index
Barony 44 8.34x
Toxteth Park 29 11.19x
Liverpool 23 4.95x
Govan 21 4.07x
Borgue 17 677.29x
Levenshulme 15 190.60x
Hulme 14 8.76x
Bermondsey 12 6.25x
Roath 12 23.53x
West Derby 12 5.36x
Camberwell 11 2.67x
Everton 11 4.51x
Glasgow 11 2.97x
Wolverhampton 11 6.57x
Tankersley 10 210.08x
Woolwich 9 11.07x
Aspull 8 44.44x
Birkenhead 8 7.05x
Byker 8 16.87x
Cambusnethan 8 17.27x
Edinburgh Canongate 8 36.40x
Holy Trinity 8 5.21x
Old Kilpatrick 8 39.06x
Bangor 7 27.83x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 11.52x
Dunoon Kilmun 7 50.00x
Huddersfield 7 7.52x
Islington London 7 1.12x
Kirkby Malham 7 2187.50x
St Giles 7 58.48x
Bishop Auckland 6 23.32x
Bradford 6 3.88x
Greenwich 6 5.85x
Hunwick Helmington 6 130.15x
Kensington London 6 1.67x
Kingstanley 6 128.48x
Mitcham 6 30.21x
Muirkirk 6 52.96x
Nottingham St Mary 6 2.67x
Barrow In Furness 5 4.80x
Canterbury St Peter 5 201.61x
Carluke 5 26.41x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.44x
Falkirk 5 8.98x
Farlington 5 1351.35x
Ilkeston 5 17.67x
Kirkcudbright 5 64.77x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 8.73x
Newington 5 2.10x
Quedgley 5 476.19x
Salford 5 2.22x
Whitehaven 5 16.90x
Beswick 4 20.44x
Charlton Next Woolwich 4 17.44x
Chilton 4 66.78x
Crosscanonby 4 21.79x
Godalming 4 20.22x
Lancaster 4 8.79x
Northowram 4 8.93x
Old Cumnock 4 37.24x
St Pancras London 4 0.77x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 1.73x
Trowbridge 4 15.87x
Westoe 4 3.68x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 4 31.57x
Dalton In Furness 3 10.16x
Eastington 3 71.60x
Lenton 3 14.66x
Newton 3 5.09x
Rickergate 3 25.53x
Skerton 3 47.77x
St Cuthbert W O 3 11.09x
St Swithin Lincoln 3 18.51x
Stirling 3 10.01x
Tipton 3 4.50x
Wortley In Bramley 3 5.93x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 3.36x
Castleford 2 8.59x
Kirkbampton 2 215.05x
Tottenham 2 1.95x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
William 25
George 22
Henry 16
James 16
Thomas 12
Samuel 8
Joseph 7
Arthur 6
Charles 6
Robert 6
Harry 5
Richard 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Andrew 4
Walter 4
Frederick 3
Hugh 3
Benjamin 2
David 2
Edward 2
Richd. 2
Thos 2
Willm. 2
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Feargus 1
Francis 1
Fredk.Charles 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Horatio 1
Isaac 1
J.L. 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Jos.A. 1
Joshua 1
Laure 1
Michael 1
Michail 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Rt. 1
Sam 1
Saml 1
Sidney 1
Silvester 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Moreland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moreland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 660 people were recorded with the Moreland surname. That placed it at #5,439 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moreland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,320 in 2016. That gives Moreland a modern rank of #4,547.

What does the Moreland surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a moor or bog, or a place called Moreland.

What does the Moreland map show?

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