NameCensus.

UK surname

Morgan

An occupational surname for a sea-captain, ship-builder, or someone living near the sea.

In the 1881 census there were 59,523 people recorded with the Morgan surname, ranking it #41 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 90,375, ranked #38, up from #41 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Merthyr Tydfil. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Merthyr Tydfil and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morgan is 92,607 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.8%.

1881 census count

59,523

Ranked #41

Modern count

90,375

2016, ranked #38

Peak year

2010

92,607 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morgan had 59,523 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #41 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 90,375 in 2016, ranked #38.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 79,001 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Morgan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morgan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morgan 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 41,399 #42
1861 historical 40,925 #43
1881 historical 59,523 #41
1891 historical 62,987 #44
1901 historical 73,972 #41
1911 historical 79,001 #38
1997 modern 87,582 #39
1998 modern 90,761 #39
1999 modern 91,484 #39
2000 modern 90,857 #40
2001 modern 88,366 #40
2002 modern 90,211 #40
2003 modern 88,446 #40
2004 modern 88,651 #40
2005 modern 87,408 #39
2006 modern 87,359 #39
2007 modern 88,039 #39
2008 modern 88,353 #39
2009 modern 90,506 #39
2010 modern 92,607 #39
2011 modern 91,577 #39
2012 modern 89,891 #38
2013 modern 91,453 #38
2014 modern 91,906 #38
2015 modern 90,894 #38
2016 modern 90,375 #38

Geography

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Where Morgans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot and Ceredigion. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
4 Aberdare Glamorganshire
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 021 Powys
2 Merthyr Tydfil 002 Merthyr Tydfil
3 Neath Port Talbot 020 Neath Port Talbot
4 Ceredigion 011 Ceredigion
5 Neath Port Talbot 004 Neath Port Talbot

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morgan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morgan

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Morgan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Morgan 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Morgan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Morgan is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Morgan falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Morgan

The surname Morgan originated in Wales, derived from the Welsh male given name "Morgan”", which is thought to mean "sea-born" or "circling sea". This name was particularly prevalent in areas such as Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Morgan can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Morgant". This suggests that the name was already in use in England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Morgan was associated with various noble families in Wales, such as the Morgans of Tredegar and the Morgans of Pencoed. Notable figures from this period include Sir John Morgan (c. 1380-1443), a Welsh soldier and landowner, and Sir Thomas Morgan (c. 1485-1556), a Welsh politician and courtier.

In the 16th century, the Morgan surname began to spread more widely across England and other parts of the British Isles. One of the most famous bearers of the name during this time was Sir Henry Morgan (1635-1688), a Welsh privateer and pirate who became Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica.

As the Morgan surname grew in popularity, it became associated with various place names, such as Morgans Town in West Virginia and Morgan City in Louisiana. The name also saw variations in spelling, including Morgant, Morganwg, and Morganau.

Other notable individuals with the surname Morgan throughout history include:

1. William Morgan (c. 1545-1604), a Welsh biblical scholar and translator of the first modern Welsh Bible. 2. Daniel Morgan (1736-1802), an American pioneer, soldier, and United States Representative from Virginia. 3. John Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), an American financier and banker who dominated corporate finance on Wall Street. 4. Joseph Morgan (1857-1923), a Welsh-born American businessman and founder of the Morgan Corporation. 5. Charles Langbridge Morgan (1894-1958), a British novelist and playwright.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Morgan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morgan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 59,523 people were recorded with the Morgan surname. That placed it at #41 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morgan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 90,375 in 2016. That gives Morgan a modern rank of #38.

What does the Morgan surname mean?

An occupational surname for a sea-captain, ship-builder, or someone living near the sea.

What does the Morgan map show?

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