UK surname
A variant spelling of the French surname Morel, derived from the Latin word "maurus" meaning dark complexioned.
In the 1881 census there were 118 people recorded with the Morrel surname, ranking it #17,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #17,935 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Whitworth, Poole St James and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morrel is 135 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 91.5%.
1881 census count
118
Ranked #17,935
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1851
135 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Morrel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Morrel surname density by area, 1881 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 | 135 | #13,964 |
| 1861 | historical | 116 | #18,751 |
| 1881 | historical | 118 | #17,935 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 73 | #26,069 |
| 1911 | historical | 49 | #27,894 |
| 1997 | modern | 23 | #35,484 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 17 | #36,207 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 12 | #36,679 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Whitworth, Poole St James, Halifax, Farnham and Manchester. 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 | Whitworth | Durham |
| 2 | Poole St James | Dorset |
| 3 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Farnham | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Morrel 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 Morrel, 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 Morrel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Morrel 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, Morrel 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 Morrel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Morrel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MORREL has its origins in France, with the earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "morel," which referred to a dark brown or blackish color. This term was likely used to describe someone with a swarthy complexion or dark hair.
During the Middle Ages, many French surnames emerged from descriptive nicknames relating to physical attributes, occupations, or places of residence. MORREL may have been initially bestowed upon someone with a darker complexion, distinguishing them from others in their community.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the MORREL surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landholders in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals bearing this name had already established a presence in England by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, a nobleman named Robert MORREL is documented as holding lands in Normandy, France. His name appears in various charters and records from the region during that time period.
Another notable figure was Jean MORREL, a French merchant and shipowner who lived in Marseille during the late 16th century. He played a significant role in developing the city's maritime trade and commerce.
During the 17th century, the MORREL surname was found in various parts of England, including Essex and Suffolk. One prominent individual was Thomas MORREL (1616-1673), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Provost of Eton College.
In the 18th century, the name MORREL appeared in various literary works, such as the novels of Jane Austen. One of her characters in the novel "Persuasion" is named Mrs. MORREL.
In the 19th century, a notable figure was James MORREL (1824-1895), a British politician and Member of Parliament who represented the constituency of Stroud.
The MORREL surname has also been associated with various place names throughout history. For instance, there are references to the village of Morrell in Oxfordshire, England, which may have derived its name from the same linguistic roots as the surname.
While the MORREL surname has its origins in France, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with bearers found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morrel 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. Yorkshire leads with 43 Morrels recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.77x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 43 | 3.77x |
| Middlesex | 20 | 1.74x |
| Durham | 9 | 2.63x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.51x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 2.07x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 2.00x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 2.34x |
| Surrey | 4 | 0.71x |
| Cambridgeshire | 3 | 4.12x |
| Denbighshire | 3 | 6.90x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 1.63x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 2.31x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.88x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.51x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.39x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.55x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.42x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 3.93x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.42x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 0.92x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rastrick in Yorkshire leads with 12 Morrels recorded in 1881 and an index of 378.55x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Morrel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 9 |
| Sarah | 7 |
| Jane | 5 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Adelaide | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Blanche | 1 |
| Camelia | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Lidya | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Marian | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Nancy | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Roseanna | 1 |
| Sallay | 1 |
| Sarrah | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Morrel 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 Morrel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 18 |
| Coal Miner | 5 |
| Ag Labr | 2 |
| Iron Worker | 2 |
| Joiner | 2 |
| Servant | 2 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| (No Occ) Stock Holder Railway & Corporation | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coachsmith | 1 |
| College Servant | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook (Dom) | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Cotton Winder | 1 |
| Domestic Work | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Farm Serv Indoors | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Fish Monger | 1 |
| Gardener (7-3) | 1 |
| Gardener (Dom) | 1 |
| Gardener Dom Serv | 1 |
| Gardener Domestic | 1 |
| Gen Ser (Dom) | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Ivory Turner | 1 |
| Laborer In Stone Quarry | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Licisance Vitular ? | 1 |
| Manager Tobacconist | 1 |
| Masons Lab | 1 |
| Miller (C) | 1 |
| Newsagent Assistant | 1 |
| Newspaper Publisher & Clerk | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| Sailor | 1 |
| Silk Spinner | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Superanuated Pilot | 1 |
| Tailor Porter | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
| Worsted Millhand | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 118 people were recorded with the Morrel surname. That placed it at #17,935 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Morrel a modern rank of #37,599.
A variant spelling of the French surname Morel, derived from the Latin word "maurus" meaning dark complexioned.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Morrel 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.