NameCensus.

UK surname

Morey

A French occupational surname for a dark-skinned person or a Moor.

In the 1881 census there were 989 people recorded with the Morey surname, ranking it #3,945 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,307, ranked #4,583, down from #3,945 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newchurch and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morey is 1,397 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.2%.

1881 census count

989

Ranked #3,945

Modern count

1,307

2016, ranked #4,583

Peak year

1999

1,397 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morey had 989 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,945 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,307 in 2016, ranked #4,583.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,273 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Morey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morey 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 759 #3,510
1861 historical 740 #3,692
1881 historical 989 #3,945
1891 historical 1,118 #3,801
1901 historical 1,201 #4,101
1911 historical 1,273 #3,730
1997 modern 1,350 #4,263
1998 modern 1,365 #4,365
1999 modern 1,397 #4,306
2000 modern 1,370 #4,370
2001 modern 1,322 #4,426
2002 modern 1,346 #4,446
2003 modern 1,313 #4,446
2004 modern 1,302 #4,475
2005 modern 1,280 #4,494
2006 modern 1,272 #4,535
2007 modern 1,291 #4,517
2008 modern 1,321 #4,449
2009 modern 1,302 #4,600
2010 modern 1,348 #4,544
2011 modern 1,364 #4,449
2012 modern 1,338 #4,461
2013 modern 1,365 #4,461
2014 modern 1,362 #4,492
2015 modern 1,328 #4,548
2016 modern 1,307 #4,583

Geography

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Where Moreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newchurch and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester and Isle of Wight. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Newchurch Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 014 Chichester
2 Isle of Wight 014 Isle of Wight
3 Isle of Wight 009 Isle of Wight
4 Isle of Wight 003 Isle of Wight
5 Isle of Wight 015 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morey

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Morey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Morey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Morey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Morey 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

Morey falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Morey

The surname Morey is of French origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old French word "morier," meaning a mulberry tree or a mulberry grove. This name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked with mulberry trees, perhaps cultivating them for the production of silk or wine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Moriacus" and "Moriaus." This ancient record provides evidence of the name's existence in various regions of England following the Norman Conquest in 1066, suggesting that the name was carried over by Norman settlers from France.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "de Moriaco," "de Morea," and "de Moreia," reflecting the common practice of using the preposition "de" (meaning "from") to indicate a person's place of origin or residence.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert Morey, a prominent English knight who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. He served as a commander in the King's armies and participated in the Hundred Years' War against France.

Another historical figure was William Morey, born in 1520, who was a renowned English theologian and scholar. He served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and played a significant role in the English Reformation under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the name Morey gained prominence in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances was that of Isaac Morey, who was born in 1648 in Massachusetts and became a prominent settler and landowner in the colony.

John Morey, born in 1730, was a influential figure in the American Revolutionary War. He served as a colonel in the Continental Army and played a crucial role in several key battles, including the Battle of Saratoga.

Jacques Morey, born in 1785 in France, was a renowned French architect and urban planner. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable landmarks in Paris, including the Palais de la Bourse (Stock Exchange Building).

These examples illustrate the widespread presence of the surname Morey throughout history, spanning various countries and professions, from military leaders to scholars, architects, and settlers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morey 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. Hampshire leads with 326 Moreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.55x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 326 16.55x
Devon 127 6.35x
Middlesex 125 1.30x
Surrey 102 2.18x
Dorset 75 11.89x
Kent 35 1.07x
Staffordshire 35 1.08x
Somerset 30 1.94x
Sussex 27 1.67x
Wiltshire 18 2.12x
Lancashire 16 0.14x
Gloucestershire 10 0.53x
Yorkshire 8 0.08x
Lanarkshire 7 0.23x
Berkshire 6 0.83x
Royal Navy 6 5.24x
Shropshire 6 0.72x
Glamorgan 5 0.30x
Westmorland 5 2.37x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.52x
Durham 2 0.07x
Midlothian 2 0.16x
Northamptonshire 2 0.22x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.66x
Warwickshire 2 0.08x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Essex 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 103 Moreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.69x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 103 26.69x
Ryde 31 73.27x
Northwood 28 99.82x
Carisbrooke 27 98.76x
Wolverhampton 26 10.43x
Kensington London 22 4.12x
Brixham 19 82.00x
Lambeth 19 2.27x
Withycombe Rawleigh 18 172.74x
Islington London 17 1.83x
Chelsea London 15 5.18x
Portsmouth 15 33.08x
Newport 14 131.09x
Havant 13 130.39x
Highweek 13 182.33x
Arreton 12 190.17x
Bridport 12 92.45x
Camberwell 12 1.96x
Southwark Christchurch 11 24.43x
St Giles In Fields 11 33.19x
Alverstoke 10 14.03x
Brighton 10 3.06x
Hinton St George 10 446.43x
Fovant 9 489.13x
Newington 9 2.54x
Chardstock 8 183.07x
Dawlish 8 53.62x
Lee 8 16.81x
Shalfleet 8 210.53x
Shoreditch London 8 1.92x
Streatham 8 11.22x
Yetminster 8 341.88x
Battersea 7 1.98x
Bermondsey 7 2.45x
Chudleigh 7 110.06x
Exeter St Sidwell 7 15.28x
Hardington Mandeville 7 336.54x
Southampton St Mary 7 5.65x
St Pancras London 7 0.91x
Stoke Damerel 7 5.00x
Croydon 6 2.31x
Gittisham 6 408.16x
Govan 6 0.78x
Littlehampton 6 46.40x
Milton Abbas 6 194.17x
Plumstead 6 5.49x
Pontefract 6 29.25x
Pontesbury 6 59.41x
Royal Navy 6 6.13x
Shute 6 315.79x
Withnell 6 85.71x
Boldre 5 70.92x
Brading 5 19.11x
Exeter St David 5 29.26x
Madeley 5 61.88x
Ockham 5 276.24x
Offwell 5 458.72x
Orton 5 79.24x
Pilsdon 5 1666.67x
St George Hanover 5 3.99x
St Luke London 5 3.24x
Symondsbury 5 124.38x
Wokingham 5 30.38x
Blandford Forum 4 32.15x
Bristol St Augustine 4 13.15x
Brook 4 625.00x
Cheltenham 4 2.75x
Cwmdu 4 19.63x
Dewlish 4 263.16x
Hammersmith London 4 1.69x
Kingswinford 4 3.40x
Lewisham 4 2.29x
Martock 4 39.80x
Minster In Sheppey 4 7.37x
Send Ripley 4 65.57x
South Stoneham 4 9.36x
St Nicholas 4 347.83x
Subdeanery 4 32.55x
Westbury 4 20.17x
Willesden 4 4.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 51
Mary 46
Sarah 30
Emma 21
Alice 20
Ann 19
Jane 19
Emily 18
Eliza 15
Ellen 15
Annie 14
Louisa 10
Charlotte 9
Fanny 9
Edith 8
Frances 8
Kate 8
Anne 7
Elizth. 7
Florence 7
Susan 7
Amelia 6
Catherine 6
Caroline 5
Hannah 5
Julia 5
Maria 5
Martha 5
Minnie 5
Rose 5
Lucy 4
Bessie 3
Clara 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Lizzie 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Sophia 3
Ada 2
Anna 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Jemima 2
Lavinia 2
Marth 2
Maude 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 55
John 44
George 42
Henry 26
Thomas 26
James 25
Charles 23
Joseph 15
Ernest 13
Harry 12
Walter 12
Frederick 10
Samuel 10
Albert 9
Alfred 9
Edward 9
Edwin 7
Frank 7
Arthur 6
Richard 6
Francis 5
Fred 5
Fredk. 5
Benjamin 4
Geo. 4
Louis 4
Daniel 3
Fredrick 3
Harold 3
Herbert 3
Richd. 3
Wm. 3
Archibald 2
Frederic 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Jim 2
Patrick 2
Saml. 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Bernard 1
Carles 1
Christopher 1
Egbert 1
Jno. 1
Josiah 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Morey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 989 people were recorded with the Morey surname. That placed it at #3,945 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,307 in 2016. That gives Morey a modern rank of #4,583.

What does the Morey surname mean?

A French occupational surname for a dark-skinned person or a Moor.

What does the Morey map show?

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