UK surname
A variant of the French surname Marin, referring to someone from the coast or sea.
In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Moren surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 39, ranked #35,484, down from #18,324 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, St Dunstan Stepney and Marden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moren is 241 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 65.8%.
1881 census count
114
Ranked #18,324
Modern count
39
2016, ranked #35,484
Peak year
1861
241 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Moren surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Moren 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 | 155 | #12,604 |
| 1861 | historical | 241 | #10,192 |
| 1881 | historical | 114 | #18,324 |
| 1891 | historical | 149 | #18,420 |
| 1901 | historical | 117 | #20,830 |
| 1911 | historical | 96 | #23,193 |
| 1997 | modern | 34 | #34,282 |
| 1998 | modern | 34 | #34,433 |
| 1999 | modern | 33 | #34,610 |
| 2000 | modern | 27 | #35,188 |
| 2001 | modern | 29 | #34,839 |
| 2002 | modern | 27 | #35,243 |
| 2003 | modern | 27 | #35,279 |
| 2004 | modern | 32 | #35,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 31 | #35,260 |
| 2006 | modern | 33 | #35,329 |
| 2007 | modern | 35 | #35,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 39 | #35,191 |
| 2009 | modern | 37 | #35,434 |
| 2010 | modern | 37 | #35,566 |
| 2011 | modern | 40 | #35,395 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 38 | #35,534 |
| 2014 | modern | 36 | #35,662 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 39 | #35,484 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, St Dunstan Stepney, Marden, Liverpool and Glasgow. 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 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 2 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Marden | Kent |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Moren 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 Moren, 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 Moren surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Moren 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, Moren 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 Moren is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Moren, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Moren originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "mor," meaning "dark" or "swarthy," and may have been used as a nickname for someone with a dark complexion or hair color. The name was likely first borne by someone who lived near a moorland or area with dark, peaty soil.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Moren can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Morin." This suggests that the name was already in use among the Norman nobility who settled in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
In the 12th century, a notable bearer of the name was Gautier de Morin, a French knight who participated in the Third Crusade (1189-1192). He is mentioned in several chronicles of the time, including the "Histoire des Ducs de Normandie" by Benoît de Sainte-Maure.
Another prominent individual with the surname Moren was Jacques Morin (1625-1700), a French theologian and philosopher who wrote extensively on topics such as grace, free will, and predestination. His works, including "Commentarius de disciplina ecclesiastica" (1651), were widely influential in his time.
In the 18th century, Jean-Baptiste Morin (1677-1741) was a renowned French botanist and explorer who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the West Indies and South America. He is credited with introducing numerous plant species to Europe, including the sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica).
During the American Revolutionary War, Reverend John Moren (1743-1818) was a Presbyterian minister and chaplain who served with the Continental Army. He is documented as having provided spiritual guidance and support to the troops during several key battles, including the Battle of Monmouth in 1778.
It is worth noting that the surname Moren has been subject to various spelling variations over time, such as Morin, Moron, and Morren, which can be found in historical records from different regions of France and other parts of Europe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moren 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. Kent leads with 19 Morens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 19 | 5.01x |
| Durham | 13 | 3.93x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 0.83x |
| Sussex | 11 | 5.87x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 0.82x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.63x |
| Glamorgan | 6 | 3.10x |
| Buckinghamshire | 5 | 7.44x |
| Denbighshire | 5 | 11.90x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 2.19x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 1.39x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 3.02x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 3.44x |
| Surrey | 4 | 0.74x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.80x |
| Angus | 1 | 0.97x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Goudhurst in Kent leads with 8 Morens recorded in 1881 and an index of 761.90x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Goudhurst | 8 | 761.90x |
| Aberdare | 6 | 45.15x |
| Islington London | 6 | 5.57x |
| Lamberhurst | 6 | 1276.60x |
| Dover St Mary Virgin | 5 | 136.24x |
| Hastings St Leonards | 5 | 181.16x |
| Maryhill | 5 | 71.02x |
| Upton Cum Chalvey | 5 | 186.57x |
| Worcester St Alban | 5 | 5555.56x |
| Wrexham Regis | 5 | 160.26x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 4 | 18.51x |
| Hart | 4 | 493.83x |
| Huyton With Roby | 4 | 258.06x |
| Over Darwen | 4 | 37.95x |
| Wallsend | 4 | 76.19x |
| Bradford | 3 | 11.25x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 3 | 20.94x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 3.09x |
| Newchurch | 3 | 27.80x |
| Tonbridge | 3 | 21.93x |
| Crondall | 2 | 163.93x |
| Heworth | 2 | 30.67x |
| Trentham | 2 | 62.70x |
| Yateley | 2 | 465.12x |
| Ashford | 1 | 27.10x |
| Castleford | 1 | 24.94x |
| Hawley | 1 | 232.56x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 3.77x |
| Liff Benvie | 1 | 6.39x |
| Marden | 1 | 112.36x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 1 | 15.92x |
| Newbottle | 1 | 55.25x |
| North Shields | 1 | 30.30x |
| Stockton On Tees | 1 | 6.27x |
| Stoke Newington London | 1 | 11.55x |
| Tipton | 1 | 8.70x |
| Whitburn | 1 | 129.87x |
| Wimbledon | 1 | 16.45x |
| Winlaton | 1 | 31.55x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Moren 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 Moren 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 Moren households.
FAQ
In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Moren surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 39 in 2016. That gives Moren a modern rank of #35,484.
A variant of the French surname Marin, referring to someone from the coast or sea.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Moren 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.