UK surname
A French surname derived from the word "moor" or "Moorish", potentially referring to Moorish ancestry.
In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Morre surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 34, ranked #35,768, down from #23,517 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morre is 640 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 52.1%.
1881 census count
71
Ranked #23,517
Modern count
34
2016, ranked #35,768
Peak year
1891
640 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Morre surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Morre surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 146 | #13,157 |
| 1861 | historical | 460 | #5,647 |
| 1881 | historical | 71 | #23,517 |
| 1891 | historical | 640 | #6,055 |
| 1901 | historical | 241 | #13,417 |
| 1911 | historical | 125 | #19,932 |
| 1997 | modern | 63 | #31,335 |
| 1998 | modern | 53 | #32,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 30 | #34,939 |
| 2000 | modern | 23 | #35,588 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 14 | #36,484 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 24 | #35,981 |
| 2007 | modern | 29 | #35,725 |
| 2008 | modern | 33 | #35,556 |
| 2009 | modern | 33 | #35,671 |
| 2010 | modern | 29 | #36,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 24 | #36,306 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 34 | #35,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 32 | #35,896 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 34 | #35,768 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, London parishes, St Pancras, Toxteth Park and Wigan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean | Monmouthshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 5 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Morre surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Morre, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Morre surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Morre household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Morre is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Morre is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Morre, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "MORRE" is believed to have originated in France, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a variant of the French name "MOREL", which itself derives from the Old French word "mor" or "more", meaning "dark" or "swarthy". This suggests that the name was initially used to describe someone with a dark complexion or perhaps someone who hailed from a region known for its dark-skinned inhabitants.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the medieval records of Normandy, where a certain "Radulfus Morel" is mentioned in a document from the late 11th century. It is believed that this individual, and others bearing the name, were among the Norman settlers who accompanied William the Conqueror to England during the Norman Conquest of 1066.
The name's evolution from "MOREL" to "MORRE" is thought to have occurred through various phonetic changes and regional dialect variations over the centuries. In some regions of France, the name took on the spelling "MOREAU", while in others, it became "MORRE".
One notable figure bearing the surname "MORRE" was Jean-Baptiste Morre, a French sculptor who lived from 1772 to 1835. He is celebrated for his neoclassical works, including the monument to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in the Basilica of St. Denis.
Another prominent individual was Pierre Morre, a French explorer and cartographer who lived from 1623 to 1693. He is best known for his extensive mapping of the Great Lakes region of North America and his contributions to the establishment of French colonial settlements in the area.
In England, the name has been recorded as early as the 13th century, appearing in various forms such as "MORRY", "MORREY", and "MORRYE". One notable English bearer of the name was Sir Robert Morre, a merchant and Member of Parliament who lived from 1589 to 1657.
The name has also found its way to other parts of Europe, with variations such as "MORREN" in the Netherlands and "MORRA" in Italy. In Spain, the name "MORENO" shares a similar etymology, derived from the Latin word "maurus" meaning "dark-skinned".
Throughout history, the surname "MORRE" has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, explorers, merchants, and politicians, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who carried this name across different regions and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morre surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 20 Morres recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.73x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 20 | 2.73x |
| Lanarkshire | 8 | 3.38x |
| Gloucestershire | 7 | 4.88x |
| Surrey | 7 | 1.96x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.69x |
| Nottinghamshire | 6 | 6.09x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 3.10x |
| Channel Islands | 4 | 18.45x |
| Dumfriesshire | 4 | 24.75x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.41x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.92x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.08x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.81x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St George in Gloucestershire leads with 6 Morres recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.36x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol St George | 6 | 90.36x |
| Everton | 6 | 21.68x |
| Everton | 6 | 3750.00x |
| Govan | 5 | 8.55x |
| Marston | 5 | 2000.00x |
| St George Hanover | 5 | 52.36x |
| Croydon | 4 | 20.21x |
| Kirkpatrick Fleming | 4 | 1081.08x |
| St Helier | 4 | 56.66x |
| Shoreditch London | 3 | 9.46x |
| Stoke Newington London | 3 | 52.63x |
| Bothwell | 2 | 31.15x |
| Bradbury | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Hampton London | 2 | 166.67x |
| Sculcoates | 2 | 17.41x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 3.40x |
| Alcester | 1 | 163.93x |
| Ardingly | 1 | 256.41x |
| Barony | 1 | 1.67x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.14x |
| Ealing | 1 | 15.29x |
| Gloucester St Mary Lode | 1 | 294.12x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.44x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 8.78x |
| Ingleby Greenhow | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 11.68x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.57x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.72x |
| Solihull | 1 | 75.19x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 23.81x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Morre surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Morre surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Morre households.
FAQ
In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Morre surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 34 in 2016. That gives Morre a modern rank of #35,768.
A French surname derived from the word "moor" or "Moorish", potentially referring to Moorish ancestry.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Morre bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.