NameCensus.

UK surname

Morrice

A locational surname referring to someone from a place named Maurice or Morris.

In the 1881 census there were 879 people recorded with the Morrice surname, ranking it #4,315 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,367, ranked #4,406, down from #4,315 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Torosay and Kinlochspervie, Old Deer and Nigg. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Deer and Mormond, Kincorth, Leggart and Nigg North and Torry West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morrice is 1,429 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.5%.

1881 census count

879

Ranked #4,315

Modern count

1,367

2016, ranked #4,406

Peak year

2009

1,429 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morrice had 879 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,315 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,367 in 2016, ranked #4,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,051 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Morrice surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morrice surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morrice 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 728 #3,605
1861 historical 648 #4,145
1881 historical 879 #4,315
1891 historical 927 #4,458
1901 historical 1,051 #4,569
1911 historical 201 #14,905
1997 modern 1,334 #4,312
1998 modern 1,371 #4,345
1999 modern 1,373 #4,378
2000 modern 1,370 #4,370
2001 modern 1,336 #4,379
2002 modern 1,362 #4,392
2003 modern 1,327 #4,408
2004 modern 1,353 #4,343
2005 modern 1,383 #4,229
2006 modern 1,358 #4,298
2007 modern 1,378 #4,281
2008 modern 1,398 #4,265
2009 modern 1,429 #4,270
2010 modern 1,423 #4,351
2011 modern 1,391 #4,383
2012 modern 1,327 #4,488
2013 modern 1,347 #4,503
2014 modern 1,366 #4,485
2015 modern 1,361 #4,449
2016 modern 1,367 #4,406

Geography

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Where Morrices are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Torosay and Kinlochspervie, Old Deer, Nigg, Strichen and Lonmay. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Deer and Mormond, Kincorth, Leggart and Nigg North, Torry West, Tillydrone and West End North. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Torosay and Kinlochspervie Argyll
2 Old Deer Aberdeen
3 Nigg Kincardine
4 Strichen Aberdeen
5 Lonmay Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Deer and Mormond Aberdeenshire
2 Kincorth, Leggart and Nigg North Aberdeen City
3 Torry West Aberdeen City
4 Tillydrone Aberdeen City
5 West End North Aberdeen City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morrice

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morrice

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Morrice, 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 Morrice surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Morrice 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Morrice is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Morrice is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Morrice falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Morrice is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Morrice

The surname Morrice originated from the Anglo-Norman French personal name Maurice, itself derived from the Latin Mauritius meaning "from Mauritania". It is believed to have been introduced to England by the Norman invaders after the conquest of 1066.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Morrice can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Morice" and "Moryce". These early spellings suggest the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Devon and Cornwall in southwestern England. Historical records from this period include references to individuals such as William Morrice of Devon (c.1230-1295) and John Morrice of Cornwall (c.1280-1345).

As the surname spread across England, it underwent several spelling variations, including Morrice, Morice, Morris, and Maurice. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of local scribes and record-keepers.

One notable bearer of the Morrice surname was Sir William Morrice (c.1520-1588), a prominent English diplomat and politician who served as Secretary of State during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another historical figure was Reginald Morrice (1657-1708), an English politician and writer who was a staunch supporter of the Whig party and a vocal critic of the Church of England's persecution of Dissenters.

In the literary world, John Morrice (1731-1816) was a Scottish poet and playwright who is best known for his comedic plays and satirical works.

The Morrice surname also made its mark in the field of military service, with figures like Colonel John Morrice (1745-1819), a British Army officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Additionally, Sir William Morrice (1835-1917) was a prominent British colonial administrator who served as the Lieutenant-Governor of the Bahamas and the Governor of the Leeward Islands in the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morrice families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morrice 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 488 Morrices recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.59x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 488 61.59x
Kincardineshire 123 118.06x
Middlesex 33 0.39x
Angus 29 3.66x
Lancashire 24 0.24x
Yorkshire 17 0.20x
Herefordshire 16 4.56x
Lanarkshire 13 0.47x
Cheshire 12 0.64x
Hampshire 12 0.68x
Banffshire 11 6.20x
Fife 11 2.17x
Perthshire 11 2.86x
Durham 7 0.28x
Flintshire 6 2.61x
Glamorgan 6 0.40x
Hertfordshire 6 1.02x
Kent 6 0.21x
Wiltshire 6 0.79x
Leicestershire 5 0.53x
Norfolk 5 0.38x
Somerset 4 0.29x
Surrey 4 0.10x
Anglesey 3 1.98x
Shropshire 3 0.41x
Merionethshire 2 1.28x
Midlothian 2 0.17x
Berkshire 1 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.19x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.29x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Denbighshire 1 0.31x
Devon 1 0.06x
Essex 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.09x
Ross-shire 1 0.43x
Suffolk 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.07x
Warwickshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 145 Morrices recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.81x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 145 97.81x
Nigg 110 1276.10x
Aberdeen Old Machar 77 46.55x
Fraserburgh 35 156.95x
Old Deer 26 173.22x
Lonmay 23 319.89x
Cruden 22 215.69x
Peterhead 20 47.73x
Rathen 17 204.82x
Llangarren 16 507.94x
Tarland 16 465.12x
Dundee 15 5.07x
Strichen 14 203.49x
Coull 11 472.10x
Ellon 10 91.74x
Govan 10 1.46x
Toxteth Park 10 2.91x
Kemnay 8 166.67x
Mortlach 8 92.27x
Newhills 8 49.32x
Oxton 8 74.91x
Tyrie 8 80.48x
West Derby 8 2.69x
Kirriemuir 7 35.79x
St Luke London 7 5.10x
Aberdour 6 96.15x
Auchindoir Kearn 6 134.83x
Dewsbury 6 6.90x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 5.44x
Monifieth 6 21.43x
Monquhitter 6 73.17x
Rhuddlan 6 29.64x
Rockbourne 6 447.76x
Ystradyfodwg 6 4.59x
Arngask 5 312.50x
Banchory Ternan 5 55.49x
Bradfield 5 15.30x
Catthorpe 5 1219.51x
Ditchingham 5 158.73x
Dunfermline 5 6.42x
Flamstead 5 92.08x
Logierait 5 73.96x
Lonbridge Deverill 5 187.97x
New Deer 5 34.87x
St Pancras London 5 0.73x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 2.48x
Culross 4 120.48x
Fetteresso 4 24.49x
Keig 4 176.21x
Longside 4 42.28x
Northowram 4 6.73x
Shoreditch London 4 1.08x
Whitsbury 4 740.74x
Bathwick 3 19.69x
Farlow 3 294.12x
Hackney London 3 0.63x
Kintore 3 43.60x
Llangwyfan 3 517.24x
St Fergus 3 66.96x
St George Hanover 3 2.69x
Baildon 2 12.53x
Chapel Of Garioch 2 35.46x
Crimond 2 81.97x
Fordoun 2 34.25x
Glasgow 2 0.41x
Lewisham 2 1.28x
Liscard 2 5.88x
Maentwrog 2 80.32x
Peterculter 2 35.78x
Pitsligo 2 26.42x
St Marylebone London 2 0.44x
Turriff 2 15.64x
Auchterless 1 15.90x
Benholm 1 22.37x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 4.49x
Freshwater 1 12.48x
Leyton Low 1 2.91x
Limehouse London 1 1.06x
Minster In Sheppey 1 2.07x
Salisbury St Thomas 1 16.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 4
Hannah 4
Ann 3
Anne 3
Emma 3
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Louise 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Abigail 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Christiana 1
Constance 1
Deborah 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elsy 1
Emeline 1
Eugenie 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
G. 1
Georgiana 1
Hale 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Mirriam 1
Polly 1
Rachel 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
George 8
James 8
William 8
Alfred 6
David 4
Edward 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Andrew 3
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Alex 1
Angus 1
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Chas. 1
Ellen 1
Fredrick 1
Georg 1
Howell 1
Jerrey 1
Lawrence 1
Lewis 1
R. 1
Richard 1
Sam 1
Wartnaby 1

FAQ

Morrice surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morrice surname in 1881?

In 1881, 879 people were recorded with the Morrice surname. That placed it at #4,315 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morrice surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,367 in 2016. That gives Morrice a modern rank of #4,406.

What does the Morrice surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place named Maurice or Morris.

What does the Morrice map show?

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