NameCensus.

UK surname

Moriarty

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Muircheartaigh, meaning "descendant of Muircheartach," derived from muir meaning "sea" and ceardach meaning "skilled."

In the 1881 census there were 340 people recorded with the Moriarty surname, ranking it #8,934 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,881, ranked #3,379, up from #8,934 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and All Saints Poplar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Northamptonshire, Walsall and Harrow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moriarty is 1,913 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 453.2%.

1881 census count

340

Ranked #8,934

Modern count

1,881

2016, ranked #3,379

Peak year

2010

1,913 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moriarty had 340 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,934 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,881 in 2016, ranked #3,379.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 398 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Moriarty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moriarty surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moriarty 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 139 #13,659
1861 historical 151 #15,209
1881 historical 340 #8,934
1891 historical 311 #10,781
1901 historical 398 #9,508
1911 historical 387 #9,511
1997 modern 1,687 #3,535
1998 modern 1,768 #3,507
1999 modern 1,787 #3,504
2000 modern 1,817 #3,433
2001 modern 1,771 #3,436
2002 modern 1,814 #3,427
2003 modern 1,771 #3,443
2004 modern 1,786 #3,421
2005 modern 1,769 #3,422
2006 modern 1,773 #3,416
2007 modern 1,788 #3,429
2008 modern 1,802 #3,429
2009 modern 1,861 #3,411
2010 modern 1,913 #3,400
2011 modern 1,908 #3,362
2012 modern 1,843 #3,419
2013 modern 1,872 #3,415
2014 modern 1,879 #3,431
2015 modern 1,875 #3,402
2016 modern 1,881 #3,379

Geography

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Where Moriartys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford, All Saints Poplar and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Northamptonshire, Walsall, Harrow, Halton and Leeds. 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 London parishes London 3
3 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
4 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Northamptonshire 001 South Northamptonshire
2 Walsall 009 Walsall
3 Harrow 011 Harrow
4 Halton 014 Halton
5 Leeds 059 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moriarty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moriarty

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Moriarty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Moriarty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Moriarty is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Moriarty 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

Moriarty 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 Moriarty 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 - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Moriarty, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Moriarty

The surname Moriarty originates from Ireland, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Muircheartach," which means "navigator" or "skilled seafarer." The name reflects the maritime heritage of the Moriarty clan, who were prominent in coastal regions of Ireland.

The Moriarty family was initially concentrated in the counties of Kerry, Cork, and Limerick, where they held significant landholdings and positions of influence. The name is closely associated with the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, a region renowned for its seafaring traditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Moriarty name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of Irish history dating back to the 12th century. The Annals mention several Moriarty clan members, including Muircheartach Ua Muircheartaigh, who was a prominent chieftain in the mid-12th century.

In the 16th century, the Moriarty clan played a significant role in the Desmond Rebellions against English rule in Ireland. Notable figures from this period include Donal Moriarty, a rebel leader who fought alongside the Earl of Desmond, and Muircheartach Moriarty, a prominent landowner and military commander.

Over the centuries, the Moriarty name has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the most famous was John Moriarty (1938-2007), an Irish writer and philosopher known for his influential works on mysticism and the human condition.

Other notable Moriartys include Edna Moriarty (1923-2021), an Irish stage and screen actress who had a prolific career spanning over seven decades, and Michael Moriarty (born 1941), an American actor best known for his roles in films like "Bang the Drum Slowly" and the TV series "Law & Order."

In fiction, the name Moriarty is perhaps most famously associated with Professor James Moriarty, the brilliant and villainous adversary of Sherlock Holmes in the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This fictional character has become an iconic figure in the Sherlock Holmes mythology.

While the Moriarty surname has its roots firmly in Ireland, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to immigration and diaspora. However, the name's connection to its Irish heritage and the legacy of the seafaring Moriarty clan remains strong.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moriarty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moriarty 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. Middlesex leads with 105 Moriartys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.09x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 105 3.09x
Kent 70 6.04x
Lancashire 35 0.87x
Surrey 33 2.00x
Yorkshire 16 0.48x
Essex 11 1.64x
Devon 9 1.27x
Gloucestershire 9 1.35x
Durham 8 0.79x
Channel Islands 7 6.96x
Pembrokeshire 7 6.49x
Hertfordshire 6 2.56x
Monmouthshire 5 2.04x
Hampshire 4 0.57x
Cheshire 3 0.40x
Glamorgan 3 0.51x
Staffordshire 3 0.26x
Caernarfonshire 2 1.46x
Somerset 2 0.37x
Sussex 2 0.35x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.49x
Derbyshire 1 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.45x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 2.04x
Lanarkshire 1 0.09x
Northumberland 1 0.20x
Royal Navy 1 2.47x
Warwickshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Woolwich in Kent leads with 37 Moriartys recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.47x.

Place Total Index
Woolwich 37 86.47x
Poplar London 14 21.85x
Deptford St Nicholas 13 141.46x
Islington London 11 3.34x
St Andrew Holborn 11 95.57x
Camberwell 10 4.61x
Barking 9 45.90x
Greenwich 9 16.65x
Bowling 8 24.01x
Monkwearmouth 8 82.73x
St Pancras London 8 2.93x
Clerkenwell London 7 8.74x
Great Bolton 7 13.12x
St Michaelinthe Vale 7 194.99x
Deptford St Paul 6 6.72x
Horton In Bradford 6 11.42x
Lambeth 6 2.03x
Liverpool 6 2.45x
Newington 6 4.78x
Ridge 6 1276.60x
St Davids 6 245.90x
Bristol St Augustine 5 46.55x
Kensington London 5 2.65x
Westminster St John 5 12.09x
Bromley London 4 5.36x
Everton 4 3.12x
Hammersmith London 4 4.78x
Lee 4 23.78x
Newport 4 34.16x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 7.35x
St Paul Covent Garden 4 117.65x
Streatham 4 15.88x
Wigan 4 7.11x
Bristol St Nicholas 3 250.00x
Edmonton 3 10.97x
Hulme 3 3.57x
Limehouse London 3 8.05x
Paddington London 3 2.40x
Ratcliffe London 3 16.00x
Stockport 3 7.78x
Westminster St James 3 8.60x
Bangor 2 15.11x
Chelsea London 2 1.96x
Chiswick 2 10.78x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 3.13x
Ewell 2 57.31x
Habergham Eaves 2 5.43x
Kirkdale 2 2.95x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 3.52x
Portsea 2 1.47x
Shadwell London 2 21.05x
St George Hanover 2 4.51x
St George In East 2 8.66x
Stoke Damerel 2 4.04x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.65x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.14x
Clapham 1 2.36x
Clevedon 1 17.61x
Clifton 1 2.97x
Coyty Lower 1 26.04x
Exeter Heavitree 1 18.98x
Hampstead London 1 1.89x
Longbenton 1 4.68x
Lyme Regis 1 37.45x
Manchester 1 0.55x
Mile End Old Town 1 1.87x
Oldham 1 0.77x
Pembroke St Mary 1 7.20x
Pendleton In Salford 1 2.08x
Royal Navy 1 2.89x
St Clement Danes 1 18.18x
St Gregory By St Pauls 1 117.65x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.92x
St Mary Kalendar 1 68.97x
Stone 1 6.82x
Trevethin 1 4.32x
Urr 1 15.65x
Wakefield 1 3.87x
Walcot 1 3.44x
Woking 1 10.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Ellen 23
Margaret 13
Catherine 11
Sarah 6
Ann 5
Elizabeth 5
Ada 4
Alice 4
Emily 4
Kate 4
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Lydia 3
Agnes 2
Eliza 2
Helena 2
Johanna 2
Julia 2
Rhoda 2
Agness 1
Augusta 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Cathrine 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Florie 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Honora 1
Horioria 1
Joan 1
Katharine 1
Lavinia 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucia 1
Lucy 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
Rose 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Moriarty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moriarty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 340 people were recorded with the Moriarty surname. That placed it at #8,934 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moriarty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,881 in 2016. That gives Moriarty a modern rank of #3,379.

What does the Moriarty surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Muircheartaigh, meaning "descendant of Muircheartach," derived from muir meaning "sea" and ceardach meaning "skilled."

What does the Moriarty map show?

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