NameCensus.

UK surname

Moreno

A Spanish surname referring to someone with dark hair, dark complexion, or a Moorish background.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Moreno surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 789, ranked #6,999, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Southwark and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moreno is 789 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26200.0%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

789

2016, ranked #6,999

Peak year

2016

789 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moreno had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 789 in 2016, ranked #6,999.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 21 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Moreno surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moreno surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moreno 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
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 21 #31,179
1997 modern 287 #13,912
1998 modern 302 #13,839
1999 modern 346 #12,726
2000 modern 347 #12,642
2001 modern 349 #12,392
2002 modern 380 #11,887
2003 modern 409 #11,088
2004 modern 408 #11,117
2005 modern 409 #10,999
2006 modern 431 #10,600
2007 modern 471 #9,992
2008 modern 505 #9,565
2009 modern 536 #9,356
2010 modern 605 #8,738
2011 modern 641 #8,241
2012 modern 712 #7,509
2013 modern 766 #7,220
2014 modern 769 #7,219
2015 modern 768 #7,166
2016 modern 789 #6,999

Geography

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Where Morenos 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 Westminster, Southwark, Barnet and Brent. 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 Westminster 011 Westminster
2 Southwark 021 Southwark
3 Barnet 024 Barnet
4 Brent 023 Brent
5 Barnet 026 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moreno

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moreno

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Moreno 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

Moreno 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

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

Meaning and origin of Moreno

The surname Moreno originates from Spain, where it first appeared in the 13th century. It is derived from the Spanish word "moreno," which means "dark-skinned" or "swarthy." The name likely referred to someone with a darker complexion, a physical trait that was distinctive in certain regions of Spain.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval Spanish documents and records. For example, a certain Juan Moreno was mentioned in a land grant from the year 1275, issued by King Alfonso X of Castile.

The name Moreno has a rich historical presence in various parts of Spain. In the region of Andalusia, the name was particularly prevalent, reflecting the diverse cultural influences that shaped the area over centuries of Moorish occupation.

One notable figure bearing the surname Moreno was Pedro Moreno, a Spanish soldier and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century. Another significant individual was Luis Moreno, a 17th-century Spanish architect who designed several notable buildings in Madrid.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Moreno was also found in various Spanish settlements in the Americas, as explorers and colonists from Spain established new communities in the New World. For instance, a Juan Moreno was among the early settlers of Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the late 16th century.

In the realm of literature, the Spanish playwright and poet Agustín Moreto y Cabaña (1618-1669) was a prominent figure of the Spanish Golden Age. His works, including plays such as "El desdén con el desdén" (Disdain Met with Disdain), have been widely celebrated and studied.

Another notable individual with the surname Moreno was Mariano Moreno (1778-1811), an Argentine lawyer, journalist, and politician who played a crucial role in the Argentine War of Independence from Spain. He is considered one of the founding fathers of Argentina.

As the centuries passed, the Moreno surname spread globally, carried by Spanish emigrants and their descendants to various parts of the world, including Latin America, the Philippines, and other regions influenced by Spanish colonization and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moreno families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moreno 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 3 Morenos recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.65x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3 8.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 2 Morenos recorded in 1881 and an index of 170.94x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 2 170.94x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 357.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Marie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Jose 2

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 Moreno households.

Occupation Count
Saloon Steward 1
Ship Steward 1

FAQ

Moreno surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moreno surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Moreno surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moreno surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 789 in 2016. That gives Moreno a modern rank of #6,999.

What does the Moreno surname mean?

A Spanish surname referring to someone with dark hair, dark complexion, or a Moorish background.

What does the Moreno map show?

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