UK surname
A surname derived from the Norman French term "mores" meaning thicket or brushwood.
In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Morres surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #22,225 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morres is 574 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.8%.
1881 census count
80
Ranked #22,225
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1861
574 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Morres surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Morres 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 | 227 | #9,448 |
| 1861 | historical | 574 | #4,590 |
| 1881 | historical | 80 | #22,225 |
| 1891 | historical | 468 | #7,833 |
| 1901 | historical | 107 | #21,955 |
| 1911 | historical | 106 | #21,948 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton, St Pancras, St James Clerkenwell and Chilvers Coton. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | Chilvers Coton | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Morres 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 Morres, 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 Morres surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Morres 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, Morres 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 Morres is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Morres, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Morres has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Moor Houses, located in the county of Yorkshire. The name likely evolved from the Old English words "mor" meaning "marsh" or "moor" and "hus" meaning "house" or "dwelling."
In ancient records, the name appears with various spellings, including Moorhous, Moorhouse, and Morehouse, reflecting the evolution of language and spelling conventions over time. The earliest known record of the name Morres can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379.
One notable historical figure bearing this surname was John Morres, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the 16th century. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London and owned substantial property in the city.
Another individual of note was Sir Christopher Morres, who lived during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the late 16th century. He was a renowned soldier and served as a captain in the English army, participating in several battles against the Spanish Armada.
In the 17th century, the name appears in the records of the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown. Thomas Morres was one of the early colonists who arrived in Virginia in 1619, indicating the spread of the surname across the Atlantic Ocean.
The 18th century saw the emergence of William Morres, a renowned architect and surveyor from Yorkshire. He designed several notable buildings in the region, including the Morres family estate, which still stands today as a testament to his architectural prowess.
In the 19th century, Edward Morres, born in 1812, gained recognition as a respected scholar and linguist. He made significant contributions to the study of ancient languages and wrote several influential texts on linguistics and etymology.
While these are just a few examples, the surname Morres has a rich and diverse history spanning multiple centuries and regions, with many notable individuals bearing this name throughout the ages.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morres 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. Lancashire leads with 34 Morres' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.67x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 34 | 3.67x |
| Somerset | 17 | 13.54x |
| Shropshire | 5 | 7.42x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 4.91x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.51x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 1.19x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.79x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.16x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.25x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.95x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.83x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.38x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.76x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Langridge in Somerset leads with 13 Morres' recorded in 1881 and an index of 65000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Langridge | 13 | 65000.00x |
| Manchester | 11 | 26.42x |
| Little Woolton | 7 | 2592.59x |
| Tonge | 7 | 360.82x |
| Northfield | 5 | 259.07x |
| Ardwick | 4 | 47.90x |
| Lyncombe Widcombe | 4 | 121.58x |
| Madeley | 4 | 161.94x |
| Westminster St John | 4 | 42.11x |
| Barony | 3 | 4.70x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 4.01x |
| Holdenhurst | 2 | 47.62x |
| Little Leigh | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Sutton | 2 | 64.31x |
| Aighton Bailey | 1 | 222.22x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 1 | 4.94x |
| Bingley | 1 | 20.33x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 6.80x |
| Hastings St Leonards | 1 | 51.81x |
| Kemberton | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Melcombe Regis | 1 | 47.17x |
| Norwich St Martin At Oak | 1 | 136.99x |
| Walsall Borough | 1 | 49.02x |
| Walton On Thames | 1 | 57.14x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Morres 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 Morres 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 Morres households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 20 |
| Umbrella Coverer | 3 |
| Clerk Warehouse | 2 |
| Umbrella Maker | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| B.A. Oxon Late Lieut 47TH Regt | 1 |
| Card Room Hand | 1 |
| Coachman (Dom) | 1 |
| Cotton Maker Up | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Fustian Cutter | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Hat Salesman | 1 |
| Housemaid Dom | 1 |
| Iron Stone Miner | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer (Agr) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Nail Maker | 1 |
| Officers Dau | 1 |
| Page | 1 |
| Pianoforte Maker | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Rector Of Langridge | 1 |
| Retired Com R N | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| Retired Farmer Wife | 1 |
| School Boy | 1 |
| Unemployed | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Morres surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Morres a modern rank of #37,705.
A surname derived from the Norman French term "mores" meaning thicket or brushwood.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Morres 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.