NameCensus.

UK surname

Morledge

A locational surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from the town of the same name.

In the 1881 census there were 69 people recorded with the Morledge surname, ranking it #23,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 89, ranked #32,297, down from #23,816 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Nottingham, Broxtowe and Erewash.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morledge is 101 in 2003. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.0%.

1881 census count

69

Ranked #23,816

Modern count

89

2016, ranked #32,297

Peak year

2003

101 bearers

Map years

1

2006 to 2006

Key insights

  • Morledge had 69 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,816 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016, ranked #32,297.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 81 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Morledge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morledge surname density by area, 2006 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morledge 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 51 #24,096
1861 historical 63 #25,901
1881 historical 69 #23,816
1891 historical 81 #26,632
1901 historical 60 #27,502
1911 historical 54 #27,423
1997 modern 80 #29,554
1998 modern 90 #28,920
1999 modern 92 #28,833
2000 modern 92 #28,832
2001 modern 94 #28,246
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 100 #28,025
2006 modern 100 #28,283
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 99 #30,397
2011 modern 95 #30,877
2012 modern 92 #31,528
2013 modern 97 #31,239
2014 modern 92 #32,132
2015 modern 94 #31,872
2016 modern 89 #32,297

Geography

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Where Morledges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Nottingham, Broxtowe and Erewash. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Nottingham 037 Nottingham
2 Nottingham 035 Nottingham
3 Broxtowe 003 Broxtowe
4 Erewash 016 Erewash
5 Nottingham 040 Nottingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morledge

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morledge

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Morledge, 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 Morledge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Morledge 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Morledge 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

Morledge is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Morledge falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Morledge is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Morledge

The surname Morledge originates from England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "mor" meaning "moor" and "lecg" meaning "ridge," suggesting the name's association with individuals residing near a moor or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "de Morlegh." This spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name over time.

During the medieval period, the name Morledge was primarily concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is possible that the name originated as a topographic descriptor for individuals living near specific geographic features, such as moorlands or ridges.

While the Morledge surname does not appear in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, it is mentioned in several historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For instance, John de Morlegh was listed as a landholder in Yorkshire in 1285, and Richard de Morlegh was recorded as a freeman in Lancashire in 1332.

Notable individuals bearing the Morledge surname throughout history include:

1. William Morledge (1550-1621), an English merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, known for his philanthropic endeavors in supporting local churches and schools.

2. Thomas Morledge (1670-1748), a prominent clockmaker from Lancashire, renowned for his intricate timepiece designs and contributions to the field of horology.

3. Elizabeth Morledge (1720-1795), a diarist from Derbyshire, whose detailed accounts provide valuable insights into the daily lives of English gentry during the 18th century.

4. James Morledge (1832-1912), a British military officer who served in the Crimean War and later became a pioneer in the field of military engineering.

5. Catherine Morledge (1890-1976), a renowned artist and sculptor from Yorkshire, known for her innovative use of materials and her distinct style influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement.

While the Morledge surname has roots in northern England, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and exploration. However, its origins can be traced back to the moorlands and ridges of England's northern counties, where the name first emerged as a descriptive identifier for local residents.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morledge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morledge 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. Lancashire leads with 24 Morledges recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.00x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 24 3.00x
Derbyshire 16 15.18x
Nottinghamshire 10 11.02x
Cheshire 8 5.38x
Middlesex 6 0.89x
Yorkshire 2 0.30x
Hampshire 1 0.72x
Lincolnshire 1 0.93x
Surrey 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Haughton in Lancashire leads with 16 Morledges recorded in 1881 and an index of 1367.52x.

Place Total Index
Haughton 16 1367.52x
Belper 7 343.14x
Hurdsfield 7 769.23x
Little Chester 5 3846.15x
Nottingham St Mary 5 21.30x
Pendleton In Salford 5 52.52x
Radford 5 108.46x
Derby St Peter 3 89.29x
Chelsea London 2 9.86x
Tottenham 2 18.66x
Aldershot 1 21.65x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 16.10x
Boston 1 30.58x
Broughton In Salford 1 13.70x
Hornsey 1 11.75x
Litchurch 1 23.58x
Macclesfield 1 15.15x
Marske In Guisbrough 1 84.75x
Mile End Old Town 1 9.42x
Reigate Foreign 1 28.17x
Warrington 1 10.56x
Withington 1 38.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Jane 5
Mary 4
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Adam 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Hannah 1
Kate 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
Joseph 5
Thomas 4
John 3
Garner 2
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Chas.E. 1
Fred 1
James 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Morledge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morledge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 69 people were recorded with the Morledge surname. That placed it at #23,816 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morledge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016. That gives Morledge a modern rank of #32,297.

What does the Morledge surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from the town of the same name.

What does the Morledge map show?

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