NameCensus.

UK surname

Morley

From a place name meaning "open land near a lake" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 11,962 people recorded with the Morley surname, ranking it #358 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16,905, ranked #372, down from #358 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derby, Ryedale and Rushcliffe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morley is 17,715 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.3%.

1881 census count

11,962

Ranked #358

Modern count

16,905

2016, ranked #372

Peak year

1999

17,715 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morley had 11,962 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #358 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 16,905 in 2016, ranked #372.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 17,002 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Morley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morley 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 7,493 #375
1861 historical 7,512 #376
1881 historical 11,962 #358
1891 historical 12,888 #339
1901 historical 15,482 #334
1911 historical 17,002 #277
1997 modern 16,963 #349
1998 modern 17,550 #353
1999 modern 17,715 #351
2000 modern 17,423 #356
2001 modern 17,053 #357
2002 modern 17,265 #360
2003 modern 16,818 #362
2004 modern 16,758 #363
2005 modern 16,411 #365
2006 modern 16,249 #366
2007 modern 16,385 #368
2008 modern 16,446 #367
2009 modern 16,803 #370
2010 modern 17,166 #371
2011 modern 16,970 #368
2012 modern 16,722 #368
2013 modern 17,111 #369
2014 modern 17,228 #370
2015 modern 17,029 #371
2016 modern 16,905 #372

Geography

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Where Morleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Werburgh and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derby, Ryedale, Rushcliffe, Bolsover and Rossendale. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derby 007 Derby
2 Ryedale 002 Ryedale
3 Rushcliffe 001 Rushcliffe
4 Bolsover 006 Bolsover
5 Rossendale 002 Rossendale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Morley, 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 Morley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Morley 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Morley is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Morley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Morley falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Morley

The surname Morley originates from England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "mor" meaning marsh or moor, and "leah" referring to a clearing or meadow. The name likely originated as a geographical marker, referring to someone who resided in a marshy clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Morley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this record, the name appears as "Moreleia" and refers to a village in Derbyshire.

During the Middle Ages, the name Morley was prevalent in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Norfolk. Historical records from this period often show variations in spelling, such as Morlay, Morleys, and Morleigh.

One notable figure bearing the surname Morley was Thomas Morley (c. 1557-1602), an English composer, theorist, and organist of the Renaissance period. He was a prominent figure in the development of the English Madrigal and contributed significantly to the advancement of music theory during his time.

Another prominent individual was George Morley (1597-1684), an English Anglican bishop who played a significant role in the restoration of the Church of England following the English Civil War. He served as the Bishop of Worcester and later as the Bishop of Winchester.

In the 18th century, Samuel Morley (1809-1886) was a notable English philanthropist and businessman. He co-founded the Morley's department store chain and was known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in supporting education and religious causes.

The name Morley has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Morley in West Yorkshire, which was once a prominent center for textile manufacturing. Other place names include Morley St Botolph in Norfolk and Morley St Peter in Derbyshire.

During the 19th century, John Morley (1838-1923) was a prominent British Liberal statesman, writer, and newspaper editor. He served as the Chief Secretary for Ireland and later as the Secretary of State for India under Prime Minister William Gladstone's administration.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals and historical references associated with the surname Morley, which has a rich history and deep roots in various regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morley 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,883 Morleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.63x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,883 1.63x
Middlesex 1,235 1.06x
Lancashire 1,120 0.81x
Nottinghamshire 1,024 6.51x
Surrey 792 1.39x
Derbyshire 667 3.65x
Sussex 592 3.01x
Kent 410 1.03x
Suffolk 405 2.85x
Cambridgeshire 372 5.03x
Lincolnshire 366 1.96x
Durham 271 0.78x
Leicestershire 267 2.06x
Norfolk 267 1.49x
Warwickshire 253 0.86x
Staffordshire 249 0.63x
Hampshire 240 1.00x
Cheshire 210 0.81x
Cumberland 122 1.21x
Glamorgan 120 0.59x
Essex 114 0.49x
Gloucestershire 112 0.49x
Hertfordshire 98 1.22x
Northumberland 77 0.44x
Berkshire 72 0.82x
Somerset 62 0.33x
Northamptonshire 58 0.53x
Oxfordshire 57 0.79x
Cornwall 47 0.36x
Bedfordshire 44 0.73x
Worcestershire 43 0.28x
Devon 37 0.15x
Wiltshire 29 0.28x
Channel Islands 26 0.75x
Buckinghamshire 25 0.35x
Lanarkshire 18 0.05x
Monmouthshire 18 0.21x
Dorset 16 0.21x
Herefordshire 15 0.31x
Kirkcudbrightshire 14 0.83x
Carmarthenshire 11 0.22x
Huntingdonshire 11 0.47x
Pembrokeshire 11 0.30x
Royal Navy 11 0.79x
Shropshire 11 0.11x
Ayrshire 10 0.11x
Flintshire 10 0.32x
Rutland 9 1.05x
Midlothian 7 0.04x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.08x
Buteshire 3 0.42x
Denbighshire 3 0.07x
Dumfriesshire 3 0.12x
Renfrewshire 3 0.03x
Roxburghshire 3 0.14x
Westmorland 3 0.12x
Wigtownshire 3 0.19x
Radnorshire 2 0.21x
Argyllshire 1 0.03x
Brecknockshire 1 0.04x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.03x
Perthshire 1 0.02x
Stirlingshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 313 Morleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.69x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 313 7.69x
Islington London 216 1.91x
Leeds 205 3.14x
Brighton 162 4.08x
St Pancras London 124 1.32x
Lambeth 121 1.19x
Mildenhall 118 78.07x
Portsea 110 2.34x
Manchester 97 1.56x
Camberwell 93 1.25x
Birmingham 92 0.94x
Hackney London 81 1.24x
Aston 72 0.89x
St Marylebone London 72 1.15x
Preston 69 1.86x
Liverpool 68 0.81x
Basford 67 9.24x
St Andrewthe Less 64 7.57x
Sutton In Ashfield 62 18.15x
Stoke Upon Trent 60 1.44x
Scarborough 58 5.52x
Ilkeston 57 11.12x
Kensington London 57 0.88x
Newington 56 1.30x
Greasley 53 14.92x
Litchurch 53 7.20x
Croydon 50 1.58x
Skelmanthorpe 50 40.03x
Blackburn 49 1.33x
Derby St Werburgh 49 4.64x
Badwell Ash 48 269.81x
Deptford St Paul 47 1.53x
Greenwich 47 2.53x
Holy Trinity 47 1.69x
Newark Upon Trent 47 8.31x
Hunslet 45 2.49x
Mansfield Woodhouse 45 42.97x
Derby St Alkmund 42 7.67x
Leicester St Margaret 42 1.33x
Southwark St George Martyr 42 1.79x
Battersea 41 0.95x
Linton 41 58.31x
Chelsea London 40 1.14x
Radford 40 5.00x
West Derby 40 0.99x
Loughborough 39 6.64x
Bethnal Green London 37 0.73x
Brightside Bierlow 37 1.63x
Everton 37 0.84x
Mile End Old Town 37 2.01x
Bishopwearmouth 36 1.21x
Stockport 36 2.71x
Horton In Bradford 35 1.94x
Tonbridge 35 2.44x
Toxteth Park 35 0.75x
Derby St Peter 34 5.84x
Paddington London 34 0.79x
Sculcoates 34 1.85x
West Ham 34 0.67x
Selby 33 13.65x
Darlington 32 2.39x
Lakenheath 32 42.60x
Reigate Foreign 32 5.19x
Snenton 32 5.17x
Chatham 30 2.74x
Clerkenwell London 30 1.09x
Great Bolton 30 1.63x
Mansfield 30 5.51x
Pendleton In Salford 30 1.82x
Great Abington 29 260.09x
Poplar London 29 1.32x
St George Hanover 29 1.90x
Barnsley 28 2.35x
Carshalton 28 12.86x
Halifax 28 1.65x
Sheffield 28 0.76x
Tottenham 28 1.51x
Altrincham 27 5.99x
Ecclesall Bierlow 27 1.15x
Salford 27 0.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 789
Elizabeth 457
Sarah 394
Ann 238
Jane 237
Emma 207
Alice 198
Ellen 190
Eliza 182
Annie 173
Emily 152
Hannah 146
Martha 112
Margaret 99
Ada 87
Louisa 87
Kate 85
Florence 80
Edith 67
Harriet 65
Clara 61
Maria 60
Caroline 59
Susan 58
Fanny 56
Charlotte 55
Anne 53
Lucy 51
Catherine 50
Rebecca 45
Harriett 41
Frances 39
Agnes 38
Rose 37
Amelia 33
Matilda 33
Esther 29
Sophia 29
Jessie 26
Isabella 25
Lydia 23
Eleanor 22
Ethel 22
Elizth. 21
Susannah 21
Rachel 20
Gertrude 19
Grace 19
Selina 19
Julia 18

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 724
John 702
George 451
Thomas 428
James 385
Henry 251
Charles 212
Joseph 186
Edward 150
Robert 150
Arthur 138
Richard 116
Frederick 114
Samuel 113
Alfred 99
Herbert 70
Albert 67
Walter 67
David 59
Harry 59
Frank 55
Ernest 52
Edwin 39
Wm. 34
Francis 32
Patrick 30
Fred 27
Isaac 26
Benjamin 25
Michael 25
Thos. 25
Tom 22
Daniel 21
Matthew 17
Peter 17
Stephen 17
Fredk. 14
Edgar 13
Geo. 13
Mark 13
Horace 12
Philip 12
Fredrick 11
Edmund 10
Jonathan 10
Percy 10
Amos 9
Andrew 9
Sidney 9
Willie 9

Top occupations

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 Morley households.

FAQ

Morley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11,962 people were recorded with the Morley surname. That placed it at #358 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 16,905 in 2016. That gives Morley a modern rank of #372.

What does the Morley surname mean?

From a place name meaning "open land near a lake" in Old English.

What does the Morley map show?

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