NameCensus.

UK surname

Morrall

A variant of the more common Morrell surname, derived from the medieval nickname "Morrell" meaning little moor-dweller.

In the 1881 census there were 532 people recorded with the Morrall surname, ranking it #6,457 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,075, ranked #5,435, up from #6,457 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Wolstanton and Studley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Selby and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morrall is 1,102 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 102.1%.

1881 census count

532

Ranked #6,457

Modern count

1,075

2016, ranked #5,435

Peak year

2010

1,102 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morrall had 532 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,457 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,075 in 2016, ranked #5,435.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 912 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Morrall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morrall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morrall 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 392 #6,129
1861 historical 433 #5,944
1881 historical 532 #6,457
1891 historical 693 #5,657
1901 historical 761 #5,869
1911 historical 912 #4,892
1997 modern 951 #5,715
1998 modern 1,069 #5,375
1999 modern 1,093 #5,311
2000 modern 1,082 #5,333
2001 modern 1,055 #5,351
2002 modern 1,075 #5,368
2003 modern 1,064 #5,317
2004 modern 1,046 #5,409
2005 modern 1,042 #5,364
2006 modern 1,030 #5,428
2007 modern 1,035 #5,456
2008 modern 1,029 #5,521
2009 modern 1,069 #5,456
2010 modern 1,102 #5,427
2011 modern 1,095 #5,392
2012 modern 1,076 #5,388
2013 modern 1,092 #5,406
2014 modern 1,090 #5,446
2015 modern 1,064 #5,514
2016 modern 1,075 #5,435

Geography

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Where Morralls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Wolstanton, Studley, Walsall and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Selby, Herefordshire and Lichfield. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Studley Warwickshire
4 Walsall Staffordshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 008 Barnsley
2 Selby 001 Selby
3 Barnsley 003 Barnsley
4 Herefordshire 018 Herefordshire, County of
5 Lichfield 003 Lichfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morrall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morrall

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Morrall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Morrall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Morrall 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

Morrall 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

Morrall falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Morrall 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Morrall

The surname Morrall is of English origin, derived from a locational name for someone who hailed from the village of Morrell in Worcestershire. The name is believed to have stemmed from the Old English words "mor" meaning "marsh" and "hyll" meaning "hill," thus indicating a "marshy hill" or a similar landscape feature.

The earliest recorded instance of the Morrall surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Morhulle." This suggests that the name had already established itself in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

During the medieval period, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Morrell, Morrill, Morell, and Morrale, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects of the time.

One notable figure bearing the Morrall surname was Sir Robert Morrall (1512-1570), a prominent English politician and Member of Parliament who served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the religious reforms of the era.

In the 17th century, the Morrall name was associated with the town of Morral in Shropshire, which likely contributed to the spelling variation "Morrall." John Morrall (1630-1698), a respected theologian and rector of Stanton Lacy in Shropshire, was a prominent figure during this period.

Moving into the 18th century, the Morrall family had established roots in various parts of England. William Morrall (1720-1785), a renowned horticulturist from Yorkshire, gained recognition for his pioneering work in plant cultivation and the development of new varieties of fruits and vegetables.

The 19th century saw the rise of several notable individuals with the Morrall surname, including Frederick Morrall (1803-1878), a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Birmingham, who made significant contributions to the city's development and supported various charitable causes.

Another prominent figure was Emily Morrall (1845-1922), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights, who founded one of the first schools for girls in Manchester and played a crucial role in promoting educational opportunities for women.

As the Morrall name spread across England and beyond, it also gained recognition in other parts of the world. One such example is William Morrall (1868-1942), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a Member of Parliament and was involved in the mining industry in British Columbia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morrall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morrall 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. Staffordshire leads with 164 Morralls recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.40x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 164 9.40x
Warwickshire 120 9.20x
Shropshire 40 8.96x
Lancashire 39 0.64x
Worcestershire 31 4.59x
Surrey 29 1.15x
Leicestershire 21 3.66x
Yorkshire 18 0.35x
Derbyshire 16 1.98x
Middlesex 12 0.23x
Cheshire 11 0.96x
Devon 10 0.93x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.60x
Berkshire 2 0.52x
Durham 2 0.13x
Hampshire 2 0.19x
Kent 2 0.11x
Somerset 2 0.24x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.48x
Essex 1 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 1.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 40 Morralls recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.14x.

Place Total Index
Aston 40 11.14x
Studley 34 610.41x
Birmingham 31 7.13x
Walsall Foreign 31 34.39x
Stoke Upon Trent 26 14.05x
Newcastle Under Lyme 21 68.01x
Wolverhampton 19 14.16x
Bermondsey 18 11.70x
Bilston 18 53.22x
Leicester St Margaret 18 12.88x
Dudley 12 14.62x
Brightside Bierlow 11 10.95x
Tiverton 10 53.94x
Derby St Peter 9 34.91x
Sheriff Hales 9 502.79x
Warrington 9 12.37x
Camberwell 8 2.42x
Audlem 7 260.22x
Colton 7 583.33x
Darlaston 7 29.02x
Kings Norton 7 11.56x
West Bromwich 7 7.01x
Whitchurch 7 80.74x
Wolstanton 7 13.21x
Ardwick 6 10.84x
Cradley 6 98.20x
Sedgley 6 9.26x
Tanworth 6 173.91x
Bradford 5 4.03x
Burton Upon Trent 5 12.25x
Dawley 5 30.77x
Manchester 5 1.81x
Wellington 5 19.92x
Wolverton 5 77.28x
Bridgnorth St Mary 4 91.74x
Coventry St Michael 4 9.55x
Derby St Werburgh 4 8.56x
Ellesmere 4 52.15x
Hackney London 4 1.38x
Shifnal 4 32.98x
Wolstanton Knutton 4 37.52x
Bury 3 4.28x
Failsworth 3 21.37x
Feckenham 3 38.81x
Leamington Priors 3 9.35x
Leicester St Leonard 3 55.25x
Newton 3 6.35x
Aldershot 2 5.63x
Bow London 2 3.04x
Chelsea London 2 1.28x
Haughton 2 224.72x
Horninglow 2 24.33x
Hurst 2 39.37x
Lambeth 2 0.44x
Lewisham 2 2.13x
Matlock 2 18.40x
Paddington London 2 1.05x
St Pancras London 2 0.48x
Stretford 2 5.93x
Worsley 2 5.29x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 0.75x
Bishops Castle Out 1 109.89x
Bishops Hull 1 37.17x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.76x
Brinnington 1 9.38x
Broughton In Salford 1 1.78x
Dodcott Cum Wilkesley 1 85.47x
Edgbaston 1 2.47x
Elston 1 123.46x
Harborne 1 1.79x
Holy Trinity 1 0.81x
Mobberley 1 38.46x
Openshaw 1 3.48x
Roxwell 1 69.44x
Royal Navy 1 1.90x
Ryhill 1 70.92x
Tardebigg 1 97.09x
Toxteth Park 1 0.48x
Whalley 1 11.19x
Yatton 1 30.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 21
Ann 18
Emma 12
Jane 11
Ellen 8
Eliza 7
Alice 6
Frances 6
Harriet 6
Annie 5
Fanny 5
Kate 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Florence 4
Harriett 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Hannah 3
Lucy 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Julia 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Rhoda 2
Rosanna 2
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Elsie 1
Helen 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Isabelle 1
Katherine 1
L.E.Maddox 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 24
George 21
James 18
Thomas 17
Charles 12
Henry 12
Richard 12
Joseph 11
Edward 9
Alfred 7
Samuel 7
Edwin 6
Robert 5
Thos. 5
Francis 4
Arthur 3
Harry 3
Albert 2
Christopher 2
Cyrus 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Jno. 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Walter 2
Benji. 1
Betty 1
Clemant 1
Cuthbert 1
Daniel 1
E.S. 1
Enoch 1
Enock 1
Ernst. 1
F.G. 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
J. 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Morrall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morrall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 532 people were recorded with the Morrall surname. That placed it at #6,457 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morrall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,075 in 2016. That gives Morrall a modern rank of #5,435.

What does the Morrall surname mean?

A variant of the more common Morrell surname, derived from the medieval nickname "Morrell" meaning little moor-dweller.

What does the Morrall map show?

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