NameCensus.

UK surname

Morran

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "great sea".

In the 1881 census there were 374 people recorded with the Morran surname, ranking it #8,364 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 238, ranked #17,361, down from #8,364 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tranent, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Crosshouse, Gatehead and Kilmaurs Rural, Bolsover and IZ13.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morran is 374 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.4%.

1881 census count

374

Ranked #8,364

Modern count

238

2016, ranked #17,361

Peak year

1881

374 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morran had 374 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,364 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016, ranked #17,361.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 374 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Morran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morran surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morran 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 197 #10,535
1861 historical 277 #9,025
1881 historical 374 #8,364
1891 historical 316 #10,639
1901 historical 367 #10,076
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 257 #14,989
1998 modern 267 #15,016
1999 modern 259 #15,433
2000 modern 245 #15,955
2001 modern 239 #15,963
2002 modern 242 #16,186
2003 modern 243 #15,911
2004 modern 237 #16,283
2005 modern 234 #16,388
2006 modern 231 #16,636
2007 modern 229 #16,941
2008 modern 235 #16,777
2009 modern 247 #16,549
2010 modern 270 #15,896
2011 modern 250 #16,637
2012 modern 241 #16,925
2013 modern 236 #17,472
2014 modern 236 #17,577
2015 modern 238 #17,378
2016 modern 238 #17,361

Geography

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Where Morrans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tranent, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Manchester and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Crosshouse, Gatehead and Kilmaurs Rural, Bolsover, IZ13, Havant and Cumnock Rural. 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 Tranent Haddington
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Crosshouse, Gatehead and Kilmaurs Rural East Ayrshire
2 Bolsover 010 Bolsover
3 IZ13 West Dunbartonshire
4 Havant 013 Havant
5 Cumnock Rural East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morran

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Morran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Morran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Morran 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

Morran is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Morran 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 Morran is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Morran

The surname Morran is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the counties of Argyll and Inverness-shire, during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic words "mor" meaning "great" or "big" and "raon" meaning "field" or "plain," suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived in or near a large field or open area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Morran can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls compiled during the reign of King Edward I of England. This document lists several individuals with the surname Morran, indicating that the name was already well-established in Scotland by the end of the 13th century.

In the 16th century, the Morran family appeared to be concentrated in the parish of Kilmun, located in Argyllshire. Historical records from this time period mention a John Morran, who was the minister of Kilmun Parish Church from 1567 to 1599.

The Morran name is also associated with the ancient lands of Morranside, which were located in the parish of Urquhart and Glenmoriston, Inverness-shire. This area was once part of the extensive territories of the Clan Chisholm, and it is possible that some Morrans may have been connected to this influential Highland clan.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Morran. One such person was Hector Morran (1677-1746), a Scottish Jacobite who fought in the Battle of Sheriffmuir during the Jacobite Rising of 1715. Another prominent Morran was Archibald Morran (1805-1874), a Scottish journalist and author who wrote extensively about the history and culture of the Scottish Highlands.

Other notable Morrans include: - John Morran (1795-1873), a Scottish minister and author who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1841. - Robert Morran (1880-1956), a Scottish artist and illustrator known for his depictions of Highland life and landscapes. - Archibald Morran (1866-1923), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Aberdeen.

Overall, the surname Morran has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Highlands, with its origins dating back to the Middle Ages. While not a widely prevalent name, it has been carried by individuals who have made their mark in various fields, from religion and literature to art and business.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morran 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. Lanarkshire leads with 78 Morrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.63x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 78 6.63x
Lancashire 45 1.04x
Renfrewshire 40 14.19x
Midlothian 38 7.80x
Ayrshire 27 9.92x
Durham 20 1.85x
East Lothian 15 31.13x
Essex 12 1.67x
Staffordshire 10 0.81x
Warwickshire 10 1.09x
Yorkshire 10 0.28x
Dunbartonshire 9 9.20x
Middlesex 8 0.22x
Surrey 7 0.39x
Dumfriesshire 6 7.46x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 9.49x
Perthshire 5 3.06x
Roxburghshire 5 7.59x
Stirlingshire 4 2.98x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.89x
Cornwall 2 0.49x
Kent 2 0.16x
Anglesey 1 1.55x
Argyllshire 1 0.99x
Berwickshire 1 2.27x
Cumberland 1 0.32x
Denbighshire 1 0.73x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Inverness-shire 1 0.92x
Northumberland 1 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.20x
Selkirkshire 1 3.04x
West Lothian 1 1.83x
Wigtownshire 1 2.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 19 Morrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.53x.

Place Total Index
Govan 19 6.53x
Muirkirk 17 266.04x
Glasgow 15 7.18x
Maryhill 14 60.76x
Tranent 14 215.05x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 6.12x
West Ham 12 7.57x
Abbey 10 23.25x
Barony 10 3.36x
Birmingham 10 3.27x
Wednesbury 10 32.58x
West Greenock 10 19.76x
Sorn 9 168.22x
Pendleton In Salford 8 15.55x
Stonehouse 8 200.50x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 10.21x
Edinburgh St Johns 7 227.27x
Newton 7 21.03x
Wardleworth 7 28.37x
East Kilbride 6 119.05x
Neilston 6 42.37x
New Kilpatrick 6 64.52x
Paisley Low Church 6 67.19x
Colinton 5 91.91x
Renfrew 5 53.71x
Annan 4 57.97x
Bradbury 4 1666.67x
Crossmichael 4 239.52x
Edinburgh Old Church 4 102.30x
Haswell 4 51.55x
Leeds 4 1.96x
Stanhope 4 35.78x
Buchanan 3 434.78x
Carluke 3 28.06x
Crichton 3 220.59x
East West Newbiggin 3 6000.00x
Edinburgh New North 3 70.75x
Erskine 3 146.34x
Ince In Makerfield 3 14.93x
Islington London 3 0.85x
Kilmadock 3 79.79x
Lambeth 3 0.95x
Liverpool 3 1.14x
Newington 3 2.23x
Old Kilpatrick 3 25.97x
Old Monkland 3 6.42x
Wilton 3 41.49x
Elton 2 13.40x
Gateshead 2 2.47x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 4.27x
Hulme 2 2.22x
Keighley 2 5.20x
Kelso 2 30.44x
Kincardine O Neil 2 82.99x
Pennington In Leigh 2 24.15x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 3.08x
Burnley 1 2.75x
Camberwell 1 0.43x
Cummertrees 1 73.53x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 8.06x
Everton 1 0.73x
Greasbrough 1 21.01x
Hackney London 1 0.49x
Haddington 1 14.06x
Hampstead London 1 1.76x
Holyhead 1 8.32x
Holywood 1 74.63x
Inch 1 21.23x
Keig 1 103.09x
Linlithgow 1 14.22x
Maidstone 1 2.70x
Manchester 1 0.52x
Nenthorn 1 175.44x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.79x
Saddell Skipness 1 69.44x
Saddleworth 1 3.60x
South Leith 1 1.82x
St Ninians 1 7.52x
Stow 1 208.33x
Westminster St James 1 2.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Ann 3
Ellen 3
Jane 3
Annie 2
Betsey 2
Esther 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Anne 1
Bessy 1
Bridgert 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Catley 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellin 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Miriam 1
Nancy 1
Rachael 1
Sabina 1
Salina 1
Susanna 1
Treasa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
Thomas 10
James 9
Michael 5
Patrick 4
William 4
Joseph 3
Martin 3
Henry 2
Owen 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alexandra 1
Anthony 1
Barnard 1
Bernard 1
Brian 1
Charles 1
Chs. 1
Edward 1
F. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.W. 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Morran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 374 people were recorded with the Morran surname. That placed it at #8,364 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016. That gives Morran a modern rank of #17,361.

What does the Morran surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "great sea".

What does the Morran map show?

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