UK surname
A Norman surname derived from the Old French personal name Maurice.
In the 1881 census there were 185 people recorded with the Morice surname, ranking it #13,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 83, ranked #32,815, down from #13,506 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rathen, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morice is 211 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 55.1%.
1881 census count
185
Ranked #13,506
Modern count
83
2016, ranked #32,815
Peak year
1851
211 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Morice surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Morice 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 | 211 | #9,997 |
| 1861 | historical | 194 | #12,310 |
| 1881 | historical | 185 | #13,506 |
| 1891 | historical | 186 | #15,740 |
| 1901 | historical | 171 | #16,689 |
| 1911 | historical | 122 | #20,245 |
| 1997 | modern | 75 | #30,109 |
| 1998 | modern | 68 | #31,181 |
| 1999 | modern | 67 | #31,409 |
| 2000 | modern | 67 | #31,473 |
| 2001 | modern | 66 | #31,394 |
| 2002 | modern | 69 | #31,527 |
| 2003 | modern | 74 | #31,091 |
| 2004 | modern | 70 | #31,681 |
| 2005 | modern | 68 | #32,097 |
| 2006 | modern | 70 | #32,240 |
| 2007 | modern | 72 | #32,397 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 67 | #33,450 |
| 2010 | modern | 66 | #33,791 |
| 2011 | modern | 78 | #32,819 |
| 2012 | modern | 78 | #33,044 |
| 2013 | modern | 86 | #32,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 86 | #32,663 |
| 2015 | modern | 85 | #32,693 |
| 2016 | modern | 83 | #32,815 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rathen, London parishes, Lambeth and Lonmay. 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 | Rathen | Aberdeen |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Lonmay | Aberdeen |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Morice 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 Morice, 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 Morice surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Morice 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, Morice 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 Morice is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Morice, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MORICE originated in France during the medieval period. It derived from the Old French personal name "Maurice," which in turn came from the Latin name "Mauritius," meaning "dark" or "Moorish." The name's roots can be traced back to the Roman province of Mauritania, located in present-day Morocco and Algeria.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the MORICE surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Moriz" and "Mauriz." This suggests that the name had already established a presence in England by the late 11th century, likely brought over by Norman settlers after the conquest of 1066.
In the 13th century, a notable figure named Richard MORICE held the position of Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1276 to 1292. Another early record comes from the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mention a Thomas MORICE as a landholder in Oxfordshire.
During the 16th century, the MORICE surname gained prominence with individuals like Sir Thomas MORICE (c. 1492-1557), who served as a diplomat and secretary to King Henry VIII. Another notable figure was Ralph MORICE (c. 1510-1600), who wrote an important biography of Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In the 17th century, the name appeared in various parish records across England, with variations such as MORRICE, MORRIS, and MAURICE. One example is William MORICE (1628-1690), a prominent lawyer and politician who served as Secretary of State under King Charles II.
Moving into the 18th century, the MORICE surname continued to be associated with notable individuals, including Humphrey MORICE (1671-1731), a British naval officer and Member of Parliament. Another prominent figure was David MORICE (1770-1809), a Scottish poet and playwright who wrote several works in the Scots language.
Throughout history, the MORICE surname has been found across various regions of England, France, and other parts of Europe, with variations in spelling and pronunciation. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval times, it has endured and been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morice 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 65 Morices recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire | 65 | 39.76x |
| Middlesex | 22 | 1.25x |
| Lancashire | 18 | 0.86x |
| Durham | 13 | 2.48x |
| Kent | 8 | 1.33x |
| Surrey | 8 | 0.93x |
| Cardiganshire | 7 | 16.26x |
| Dunbartonshire | 6 | 12.65x |
| Hertfordshire | 6 | 4.93x |
| Midlothian | 6 | 2.54x |
| Kincardineshire | 4 | 18.60x |
| Somerset | 3 | 1.06x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 1.51x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 0.65x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.26x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.50x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 0.66x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.28x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 2.47x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 0.92x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 4.75x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.34x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 0.64x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.43x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.06x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lonmay in Aberdeenshire leads with 27 Morices recorded in 1881 and an index of 1824.32x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Morice surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 6 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Augusta | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Hanah | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Bella | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Christina | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eliz. | 1 |
| Eliz.I. | 1 |
| Emiley | 1 |
| Ennes | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Ida | 1 |
| Isabell | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| M.M.D. | 1 |
| Margt. | 1 |
| Mercy | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| T.D. | 1 |
| Violet | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Morice surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 5 |
| Charles | 4 |
| James | 3 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| David | 2 |
| John | 2 |
| Walter | 2 |
| Andrew | 1 |
| Arthur | 1 |
| Beaumont | 1 |
| Daniel | 1 |
| Earnest | 1 |
| Evan | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Fredk.Jno. | 1 |
| Geo.H. | 1 |
| Geo.Thos. | 1 |
| Gilbert | 1 |
| Henry | 1 |
| Herbert | 1 |
| Jenkin | 1 |
| Larence | 1 |
| Lewis | 1 |
| Mathew | 1 |
| Norman | 1 |
| Owen | 1 |
| Patrick | 1 |
| Phillip | 1 |
| Rich. | 1 |
| Richard | 1 |
| Strutton | 1 |
| Thomas | 1 |
| Wiliam | 1 |
| Wm. | 1 |
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 Morice households.
FAQ
In 1881, 185 people were recorded with the Morice surname. That placed it at #13,506 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 83 in 2016. That gives Morice a modern rank of #32,815.
A Norman surname derived from the Old French personal name Maurice.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Morice 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.