NameCensus.

UK surname

Moroney

Derived from the Irish Ó Móráin, meaning "descendant of Mórán," a personal name meaning "great chieftain."

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Moroney surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,062, ranked #5,497, up from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, Halifax and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Carmarthenshire and Conwy.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moroney is 1,089 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1006.3%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

1,062

2016, ranked #5,497

Peak year

2010

1,089 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moroney had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,062 in 2016, ranked #5,497.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 186 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Moroney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moroney surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moroney 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 45 #25,168
1861 historical 63 #25,901
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 120 #21,292
1901 historical 150 #18,075
1911 historical 186 #15,643
1997 modern 953 #5,708
1998 modern 995 #5,699
1999 modern 980 #5,802
2000 modern 977 #5,803
2001 modern 968 #5,734
2002 modern 990 #5,743
2003 modern 987 #5,651
2004 modern 1,016 #5,525
2005 modern 1,006 #5,521
2006 modern 1,016 #5,487
2007 modern 1,041 #5,437
2008 modern 1,035 #5,491
2009 modern 1,069 #5,456
2010 modern 1,089 #5,485
2011 modern 1,064 #5,526
2012 modern 1,046 #5,515
2013 modern 1,063 #5,538
2014 modern 1,086 #5,464
2015 modern 1,075 #5,452
2016 modern 1,062 #5,497

Geography

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Where Moroneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, Halifax, London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Carmarthenshire, Conwy, Test Valley and Rushcliffe. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 005 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Carmarthenshire 007 Carmarthenshire
3 Conwy 005 Conwy
4 Test Valley 015 Test Valley
5 Rushcliffe 003 Rushcliffe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moroney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moroney

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Moroney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Moroney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Moroney is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Moroney 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

Moroney 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 Moroney 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 Moroney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Moroney

The surname Moroney is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "O' Muirgheasain," which means "descendant of the navigator or mariner." It is believed that the name originated in County Mayo, Ireland, in the 16th century.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be traced back to the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history written in the early 17th century. The annals mention a notable figure named Muirgheas O'Muirgheasain, who was a prominent chieftain in County Mayo during the 15th century.

As the name evolved over time, various spellings emerged, such as O'Moroney, O'Murroghoe, and Morroghoe, before eventually settling on the modern form of Moroney. The variations in spelling were often influenced by local dialects and the interpretations of scribes and record-keepers.

One notable bearer of the Moroney name was Reverend Patrick Moroney, who lived from 1703 to 1783. He was a Catholic priest and educator in County Kerry, Ireland, and played a significant role in preserving Irish language and culture during the Penal Laws era, when Catholic education was suppressed.

Another prominent figure was John Moroney, born in 1822, who was a successful businessman and politician in New York City during the 19th century. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly and was actively involved in the Irish-American community.

In the realm of literature, one can find references to the Moroney name in the works of renowned Irish writers, such as James Joyce's "Ulysses," where the character Myles Crawford is referred to as "Crawford Moroney."

Additionally, the name Moroney is closely associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Moroneymore and Moroney's Hill, both located in County Mayo. These place names serve as a testament to the historical presence and influence of the Moroney family in the region.

Throughout the centuries, the Moroney surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, soldiers, and statesmen. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation, its Irish roots and maritime connotations have remained an integral part of its rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moroney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moroney 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 30 Moroneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.70x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 30 2.70x
Glamorgan 13 7.97x
Middlesex 12 1.28x
Bedfordshire 9 18.56x
Surrey 8 1.75x
Essex 7 3.79x
Yorkshire 7 0.75x
Perthshire 4 9.52x
Cheshire 2 0.97x
Gloucestershire 2 1.09x
Kent 1 0.31x
Warwickshire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Parr in Lancashire leads with 13 Moroneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 327.46x.

Place Total Index
Parr 13 327.46x
Bedford St Paul 9 270.27x
Colne 9 271.90x
Swansea Town 8 59.84x
Burnley 7 74.79x
South Shoebury 7 945.95x
Bethnal Green London 6 14.75x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 31.85x
Newcastle Higher 5 450.45x
Hammersmith London 4 17.35x
Madderty 4 2352.94x
Bowling 3 32.64x
Leeds 3 5.73x
Cheltenham 2 14.11x
Newington 2 5.78x
Tranmere 2 26.32x
Birmingham 1 1.27x
Deptford St Paul 1 4.06x
Heston 1 32.15x
Liversedge 1 24.21x
St George Hanover 1 8.18x
West Derby 1 3.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Margaret 5
Annie 4
Ann 3
Bridget 3
Jane 3
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Hannah 1
Hilda 1
Kathleen 1
Lohenrury 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Nora 1
Rosa 1
Susan 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
Patrick 5
William 5
James 4
Michael 4
Thomas 3
Edward 2
Joseph 2
Andrew 1
Daniel 1
Hubert 1
Jeremiah 1
Nicholas 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Moroney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moroney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Moroney surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moroney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,062 in 2016. That gives Moroney a modern rank of #5,497.

What does the Moroney surname mean?

Derived from the Irish Ó Móráin, meaning "descendant of Mórán," a personal name meaning "great chieftain."

What does the Moroney map show?

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