UK surname
A Latinized surname derived from the French word "moeurs" meaning customs or manners.
In the 1881 census there were 101 people recorded with the Mores surname, ranking it #19,636 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #19,636 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Llanwonno and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mores is 394 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.3%.
1881 census count
101
Ranked #19,636
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1861
394 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mores surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mores 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 | 123 | #14,886 |
| 1861 | historical | 394 | #6,504 |
| 1881 | historical | 101 | #19,636 |
| 1891 | historical | 151 | #18,242 |
| 1901 | historical | 85 | #24,636 |
| 1911 | historical | 55 | #27,313 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 20 | #36,534 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 23 | #36,369 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 22 | #36,477 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 26 | #36,228 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Llanwonno, St Pancras, Manchester and Lambeth. 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 | Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin | Devon |
| 2 | Llanwonno | Glamorganshire |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mores 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 Mores, 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 Mores surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mores 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, Mores 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 Mores is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mores, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "MORES" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely in the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "mor," meaning a swamp or marshy area, suggesting that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who lived near or worked in a marshland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like document compiled in 1273, which lists a man named Richard de la More. This early spelling variation, "de la More," reflects the Norman French influence on English surnames during this time.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which mentions a John del More. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332 also list a Thomas atte More, indicating the name's presence in different regions of England.
During the late medieval and early modern periods, the surname underwent several spelling variations, such as More, Moore, and Mores, reflecting the inconsistencies in written English at the time. One notable individual with this name was Sir Thomas More (1478-1535), the English Renaissance humanist, author, and Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII.
Other historical figures with the surname "MORES" include:
1. John More (c. 1457-1532), an English lawyer and father of Sir Thomas More. 2. Edward More (c. 1530-1623), an English churchman and theologian. 3. Henry More (1614-1687), an English philosopher and poet. 4. Robert More (1703-1780), an English naturalist and botanist. 5. Hannah More (1745-1833), an English religious writer and philanthropist.
The name "MORES" was also associated with various place names in England, such as More Hall in Essex and More Park in Hertfordshire, further reinforcing its connection to specific geographic locations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mores 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. Middlesex leads with 19 Mores' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.93x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 19 | 1.93x |
| Surrey | 17 | 3.54x |
| Lancashire | 14 | 1.20x |
| Dorset | 11 | 17.01x |
| Hampshire | 10 | 4.95x |
| Cheshire | 7 | 3.22x |
| Kent | 6 | 1.79x |
| Monmouthshire | 5 | 7.02x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 0.94x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 2.95x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 1.83x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 1.27x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.81x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.49x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 10 Mores' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.27x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Portsea | 10 | 25.27x |
| Greenwich | 6 | 38.27x |
| Newington | 6 | 16.49x |
| Shoreditch London | 6 | 14.05x |
| Tyneham | 6 | 6666.67x |
| Mynyddyslwyn | 5 | 177.94x |
| St George Hanover | 5 | 38.88x |
| Croydon | 4 | 15.02x |
| Hulme | 4 | 16.39x |
| Bromley London | 3 | 13.84x |
| Newton | 3 | 33.30x |
| Preston | 3 | 9.59x |
| Rutherglen | 3 | 64.24x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 3 | 15.14x |
| Symondsbury | 3 | 731.71x |
| Agdn In Whtchrch Brdly | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Blandford Forum | 2 | 156.25x |
| Kings Langley | 2 | 400.00x |
| Marston | 2 | 606.06x |
| Somerby In Grantham | 2 | 500.00x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.52x |
| Atherton | 1 | 23.53x |
| Battersea | 1 | 2.76x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 5.77x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.59x |
| Denton | 1 | 38.61x |
| Edgbaston | 1 | 12.99x |
| Edmonton | 1 | 12.59x |
| Exeter St Martin | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 4.12x |
| Hendon | 1 | 28.25x |
| Hugglescote | 1 | 62.11x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 8.67x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 16.37x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 3.76x |
| Manchester | 1 | 1.90x |
| Manley | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Moore | 1 | 769.23x |
| Oldham | 1 | 2.65x |
| Richmond | 1 | 14.86x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mores 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 Mores 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 Mores households.
FAQ
In 1881, 101 people were recorded with the Mores surname. That placed it at #19,636 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Mores a modern rank of #36,125.
A Latinized surname derived from the French word "moeurs" meaning customs or manners.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mores 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.