NameCensus.

UK surname

Morphew

English surname derived from Old French morfe meaning "morose" or "sullen."

In the 1881 census there were 304 people recorded with the Morphew surname, ranking it #9,637 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 403, ranked #11,815, down from #9,637 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bildeston or Bilston, Naughton, Nedging and St Giles Camberwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Babergh and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morphew is 476 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.6%.

1881 census count

304

Ranked #9,637

Modern count

403

2016, ranked #11,815

Peak year

1911

476 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morphew had 304 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,637 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 403 in 2016, ranked #11,815.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 476 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Morphew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morphew surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morphew 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 156 #12,552
1861 historical 208 #11,642
1881 historical 304 #9,637
1891 historical 384 #9,166
1901 historical 432 #8,968
1911 historical 476 #8,124
1997 modern 428 #10,451
1998 modern 455 #10,315
1999 modern 440 #10,648
2000 modern 443 #10,578
2001 modern 444 #10,348
2002 modern 438 #10,675
2003 modern 420 #10,862
2004 modern 421 #10,866
2005 modern 411 #10,956
2006 modern 417 #10,886
2007 modern 410 #11,162
2008 modern 412 #11,210
2009 modern 430 #11,081
2010 modern 425 #11,423
2011 modern 412 #11,593
2012 modern 409 #11,547
2013 modern 418 #11,533
2014 modern 416 #11,660
2015 modern 415 #11,583
2016 modern 403 #11,815

Geography

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Where Morphews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bildeston or Bilston, Naughton, Nedging, St Giles Camberwell, Maresfield and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Babergh, Wealden and Wycombe. 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 3
2 Bildeston or Bilston, Naughton, Nedging Suffolk
3 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
4 Maresfield Sussex
5 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 011 Mid Suffolk
2 Babergh 001 Babergh
3 Wealden 008 Wealden
4 Wealden 013 Wealden
5 Wycombe 002 Wycombe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morphew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morphew

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Morphew is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Morphew is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Morphew falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Morphew

The surname Morphew has its origins in England, with records showing its presence as early as the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "mor" meaning "moor" or "marsh" and "hoh" meaning "ridge" or "hill." This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name referring to a marshy or swampy area near a ridge or hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Morhowe." This document lists individuals and their landholdings, indicating that the Morphew family had established roots in the area during that time period.

The name also appears in various forms in other historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1327, where it is written as "Morhewe," and the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1385, where it is recorded as "Morhowe."

In the 16th century, the name was found in various spellings, including "Morphew," "Morefewe," and "Morfew." These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time and the influence of regional dialects.

One notable figure bearing the Morphew name was John Morphew, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, around 1580. He served as a member of the Virginia Company of London and was involved in the early colonization efforts in Virginia.

Another individual of historical significance was William Morphew, born in Warwickshire, England, in 1650. He was a prominent architect and surveyor who contributed to the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of 1666.

In the 18th century, the Morphew family continued to have a presence in various parts of England. For instance, Thomas Morphew, born in Gloucestershire in 1725, was a notable legal scholar and author of several treatises on English law.

Moving into the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with individuals like Robert Morphew (1798-1872), a renowned civil engineer who worked on several major infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom.

Finally, a notable figure from the early 20th century was Ethel Morphew (1885-1964), an English author and poet who wrote extensively about nature and rural life. Her works, such as "The Fields of England" and "Woodland Verse," garnered critical acclaim and contributed to the literary landscape of her time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morphew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morphew 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. Suffolk leads with 82 Morphews recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.70x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 82 22.70x
Surrey 58 4.01x
Kent 55 5.44x
Middlesex 39 1.32x
Sussex 38 7.60x
Essex 8 1.37x
Lincolnshire 7 1.48x
Hampshire 5 0.82x
Yorkshire 4 0.14x
Norfolk 3 0.66x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.12x
Cornwall 1 0.30x
Dorset 1 0.51x
Somerset 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ipswich St Peter in Suffolk leads with 22 Morphews recorded in 1881 and an index of 452.67x.

Place Total Index
Ipswich St Peter 22 452.67x
Bildeston 21 2658.23x
Camberwell 16 8.45x
Streatham 16 72.73x
Maresfield 11 521.33x
Battersea 10 9.16x
Hartfield 10 632.91x
Beckenham 8 60.47x
Nedging 8 4444.44x
Bricett 7 2692.31x
Buxted 7 357.14x
Ightham 7 551.18x
Walthamstow 7 33.22x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 6 88.50x
Hythe St Leonard 6 167.60x
Lambeth 6 2.32x
Newington 6 5.48x
Poplar London 6 10.72x
Trottiscliffe 6 2000.00x
Great Grimsby 5 16.62x
Plumstead 5 14.82x
St Paul Covent Garden 5 168.35x
Hastings All Sts 4 84.93x
Lewes All Sts 4 201.01x
Lindsey 4 1739.13x
Shanklin 4 220.99x
St Martin In Fields 4 22.54x
Tottenham 4 8.47x
Ashford 3 30.46x
Enfield 3 15.42x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 29.64x
Offham 3 833.33x
Paddington London 3 2.75x
Ringshall 3 882.35x
St George Hanover 3 7.75x
St Marylebone London 3 1.89x
Sunk Island 3 697.67x
Teddington London 3 44.64x
Whatfield 3 1071.43x
Boston 2 13.90x
Canterbury St Peter 2 175.44x
Claydon 2 370.37x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.56x
Dover St James 2 45.15x
Folkestone 2 10.19x
Hackney London 2 1.20x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 18.74x
Richmond 2 9.88x
Sevenoaks 2 24.39x
Upton Cum Chalvey 2 28.01x
Ashurst 1 434.78x
Bathwick 1 18.94x
Brasted 1 76.34x
Bromley 1 6.49x
Buckland In Dover 1 29.85x
Budock 1 39.53x
Clapham 1 2.70x
Crimplesham 1 333.33x
Croydon 1 1.25x
Deal 1 11.59x
Gravesend 1 11.67x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.65x
Hammersmith London 1 1.37x
Happisburgh 1 175.44x
Hornsey 1 2.67x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 8.16x
Islington London 1 0.35x
Lee 1 6.81x
Lowestoft 1 5.86x
Maldon St Marys 1 71.43x
Newington 1 12.36x
Offton 1 285.71x
Sherborne 1 17.45x
St Helens 1 22.62x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 18
James 14
George 12
Henry 9
Charles 7
Ernest 5
Robt. 5
Frederick 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Fred 3
Robert 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Albert 1
Allan 1
Annie 1
David 1
Dubble 1
Edgar 1
Frederc 1
Frederic 1
Frederrick 1
Fredk.A. 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Jeffery 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Leo 1
Mark 1
Noah 1
Obed 1
Owen 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Reginold 1
Sidney 1
Wm. 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Morphew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morphew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 304 people were recorded with the Morphew surname. That placed it at #9,637 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morphew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 403 in 2016. That gives Morphew a modern rank of #11,815.

What does the Morphew surname mean?

English surname derived from Old French morfe meaning "morose" or "sullen."

What does the Morphew map show?

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