NameCensus.

UK surname

Morrey

French occupational surname meaning "dyer of fabrics".

In the 1881 census there were 564 people recorded with the Morrey surname, ranking it #6,143 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 978, ranked #5,905, up from #6,143 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Wolstanton and Muckleston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent, Cheshire East and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morrey is 1,020 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.4%.

1881 census count

564

Ranked #6,143

Modern count

978

2016, ranked #5,905

Peak year

2010

1,020 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morrey had 564 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,143 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 978 in 2016, ranked #5,905.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 932 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Morrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morrey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morrey 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 508 #4,924
1861 historical 411 #6,248
1881 historical 564 #6,143
1891 historical 629 #6,149
1901 historical 850 #5,362
1911 historical 932 #4,815
1997 modern 762 #6,796
1998 modern 985 #5,742
1999 modern 995 #5,736
2000 modern 1,011 #5,634
2001 modern 980 #5,666
2002 modern 1,010 #5,644
2003 modern 1,014 #5,530
2004 modern 1,015 #5,529
2005 modern 1,014 #5,484
2006 modern 1,003 #5,553
2007 modern 977 #5,713
2008 modern 963 #5,820
2009 modern 988 #5,824
2010 modern 1,020 #5,788
2011 modern 1,018 #5,739
2012 modern 1,009 #5,695
2013 modern 1,009 #5,776
2014 modern 1,008 #5,821
2015 modern 990 #5,857
2016 modern 978 #5,905

Geography

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Where Morreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Wolstanton, Muckleston, Burslem and Madeley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent, Cheshire East, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Muckleston Shropshire
4 Burslem Staffordshire
5 Madeley Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 007 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Cheshire East 036 Cheshire East
3 Newcastle-under-Lyme 005 Newcastle-under-Lyme
4 Stoke-on-Trent 020 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Cheshire West and Chester 046 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morrey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morrey

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Morrey is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Morrey is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Morrey falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Morrey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Morrey

The surname Morrey originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "morer," which means "to dwell." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived in a particular dwelling or location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it is listed as "John le Morer." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, as it eventually became standardized as Morrey.

Another early reference to the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a person named "Willelmus le Morere." This record provides insight into the geographic distribution of the name during that era, indicating its presence in the county of Worcestershire.

In the 15th century, the name Morrey was associated with a family that held land and property in the parish of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. Historical records from 1428 mention a John Morrey who was a landowner in the area.

One notable figure bearing the surname Morrey was Sir William Morrey (c. 1520-1597), a member of the English gentry and a prominent figure during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as a Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire and was knighted in 1587.

Another individual of note was Thomas Morrey (1667-1737), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, from 1719 until his death.

In the 18th century, the name Morrey gained further recognition with the birth of Paul Morrey (1718-1786), a renowned English artist and engraver who was particularly skilled in the art of mezzotint.

Moving into the 19th century, one cannot overlook the legacy of Charles Morrey (1807-1882), a British architect who designed several notable buildings, including the St. James's Church in Piccadilly, London.

Finally, in the 20th century, the name Morrey was carried by Charles B. Morrey Jr. (1907-1984), an American mathematician renowned for his contributions to the fields of partial differential equations and functional analysis.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morrey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morrey 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 198 Morreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.64x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 198 10.64x
Cheshire 109 8.96x
Lancashire 79 1.21x
Shropshire 77 16.17x
Oxfordshire 24 7.05x
Yorkshire 16 0.29x
Middlesex 11 0.20x
Sussex 10 1.08x
Warwickshire 10 0.72x
Renfrewshire 6 1.40x
Northamptonshire 4 0.77x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.90x
Gloucestershire 3 0.28x
Surrey 3 0.11x
Hampshire 2 0.18x
Lanarkshire 2 0.11x
Bedfordshire 1 0.35x
Derbyshire 1 0.12x
Devon 1 0.09x
Isle of Man 1 0.98x
Leicestershire 1 0.16x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Monmouthshire 1 0.25x
Northumberland 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 33 Morreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.73x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 33 16.73x
Madeley 28 603.45x
Burslem 27 50.67x
Mucklestone 23 1292.13x
Norton In Hales 17 2428.57x
Monks Coppenhall 14 30.49x
Neithrop 12 104.90x
Wavertree 12 57.33x
Ashton Under Lyne 11 7.70x
Drayton In Hales 11 112.02x
Newcastle Under Lyme 11 33.41x
Audley 10 54.32x
Forton 10 980.39x
High Leigh 9 562.50x
Prees 9 155.17x
Adderley 8 975.61x
Buerton In Nantwich 8 898.88x
Clotton Hoofield 8 1230.77x
Edgmond 8 152.67x
Hopton Coton 8 304.18x
Stone 8 33.61x
Barnton 7 241.38x
Bexton 7 3888.89x
Gnosall 7 155.90x
Abbey 6 9.21x
Checkley 6 124.22x
Coppull 6 172.41x
Delamere 6 550.46x
Edgbaston 6 13.92x
Hornton 6 631.58x
Mere 6 618.56x
Wolverhampton 6 4.19x
Wrockwardine 6 57.31x
Beswick 5 29.90x
Duddon Iddinshall 5 1351.35x
Leeds 5 1.62x
Lewes All Sts 5 135.14x
Little Woolton 5 265.96x
Liverpool 5 1.26x
Manchester 5 1.70x
Paddington London 5 2.47x
Prestwich 5 30.64x
Toxteth Park 5 2.26x
Westminster St John 5 7.45x
Wheelock 5 333.33x
Wolstanton Chesterton 5 52.58x
Woore 5 396.83x
Wybunbury 5 446.43x
Ardwick 4 6.78x
Aston 4 1.05x
Bolas Magna 4 701.75x
Acton In Nantwich 3 625.00x
Altrincham 3 14.11x
Bletchley 3 309.28x
Bristol St Paul In 3 10.42x
Cheadle 3 33.59x
Chorley 3 8.17x
E Adderbury 3 175.44x
Knutsford Nether 3 40.82x
Lilleshall 3 41.21x
Macclesfield 3 5.55x
Mirfield 3 10.00x
Moss Side 3 8.72x
Ormskirk 3 23.98x
Subdeanery 3 42.55x
Wolstanton 3 5.31x
Berkswich 2 176.99x
Brighton 2 1.07x
Caverswall 2 20.68x
Crewe In Chester 2 2000.00x
Dukinfield 2 3.56x
Hatherton 2 333.33x
Hulme 2 1.46x
Moreton Say 2 162.60x
Northampton St Giles 2 10.13x
Portsea 2 0.90x
Sandbach 2 19.27x
Stoke Upon Tern 2 113.64x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 2 18.47x
Wombwell 2 12.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Sarah 29
Ann 26
Elizabeth 25
Emma 13
Alice 9
Ellen 9
Hannah 7
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Fanny 6
Frances 6
Maria 5
Martha 5
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Emily 4
Jane 4
Matilda 4
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Margaret 3
Edith 2
Esther 2
Henrietta 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Louise 2
Rosa 2
Anne 1
Blanch 1
Clarissa 1
Elen 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Elzth. 1
Ester 1
Harriett 1
Hilda 1
Joannah 1
Julia 1
Leuisa 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Wm. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 48
Thomas 32
William 32
James 26
George 21
Charles 12
Henry 12
Joseph 11
Alfred 7
Harry 6
Samuel 6
Frederick 5
Richard 5
Albert 3
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Jesse 2
Joshua 2
Nathaniel 2
Philip 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Charley 1
Charlie 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Ellis 1
Ezekiel 1
Geo. 1
Geo.H. 1
Gorge 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Jabez 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Josiah 1
Mark 1
Noel 1
Rowland 1
Rueben 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Morrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morrey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 564 people were recorded with the Morrey surname. That placed it at #6,143 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 978 in 2016. That gives Morrey a modern rank of #5,905.

What does the Morrey surname mean?

French occupational surname meaning "dyer of fabrics".

What does the Morrey map show?

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