NameCensus.

UK surname

Morrin

A variation of the more common surname "Morin", derived from the given name Maurice.

In the 1881 census there were 165 people recorded with the Morrin surname, ranking it #14,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 433, ranked #11,120, up from #14,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dumfries. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Three Rivers, Selby and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morrin is 458 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 162.4%.

1881 census count

165

Ranked #14,559

Modern count

433

2016, ranked #11,120

Peak year

2002

458 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morrin had 165 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 433 in 2016, ranked #11,120.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 334 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Morrin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morrin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morrin 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 176 #11,489
1861 historical 153 #15,032
1881 historical 165 #14,559
1891 historical 271 #11,992
1901 historical 334 #10,818
1911 historical 161 #17,072
1997 modern 428 #10,451
1998 modern 439 #10,602
1999 modern 443 #10,577
2000 modern 445 #10,539
2001 modern 431 #10,606
2002 modern 458 #10,295
2003 modern 427 #10,720
2004 modern 410 #11,077
2005 modern 405 #11,078
2006 modern 405 #11,131
2007 modern 416 #11,020
2008 modern 421 #11,010
2009 modern 430 #11,081
2010 modern 452 #10,880
2011 modern 441 #10,958
2012 modern 415 #11,403
2013 modern 415 #11,604
2014 modern 419 #11,592
2015 modern 419 #11,483
2016 modern 433 #11,120

Geography

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Where Morrins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dumfries, Closeburn and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Three Rivers, Selby, Sefton, Gorgie West and Liverpool. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dumfries Dumfries
4 Closeburn Dumfries
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Three Rivers 003 Three Rivers
2 Selby 005 Selby
3 Sefton 025 Sefton
4 Gorgie West City of Edinburgh
5 Liverpool 014 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morrin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morrin

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Morrin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Morrin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Morrin is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Morrin is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Morrin falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Morrin 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Morrin

The surname Morrin is believed to have originated in Scotland and Ireland during the Middle Ages. It is likely derived from the Gaelic word "mor" meaning "great" or "big," and may have been a descriptive name given to someone of large stature or someone considered important in their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Morrin can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. In this record, a man named William de Moryn is listed, suggesting the name was present in Scotland in the 13th century.

In Ireland, the surname Morrin is believed to have originated as a variant of the Irish name O'Muirin or O'Muireadhaigh, which means "descendant of Muireadhaigh." Muireadhaigh was a personal name derived from the Irish word "muir" meaning "sea." The earliest recorded individual with this name in Ireland was Loughlin O'Muirin, who lived in County Laois in the 12th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Morrin appeared in various records in both Scotland and Ireland. In Scotland, a man named James Morrin was granted lands in Aberdeenshire in 1592. In Ireland, a prominent individual named Conor Morrin served as the Bishop of Kilmore from 1630 to 1636.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Patrick Morrin (1689-1768) was a prominent Irish historian and author. He wrote several works on Irish history and genealogy, including "Antiquities of the Irish Catholick Parish of St. Nicholas, Dublin" and "Memoir of the Diocese of Ardagh."

Another influential individual was John Morrin (1751-1830), an Irish judge and politician. He served as the Chief Justice of the Irish Court of King's Bench from 1805 to 1824 and was a member of the Irish Parliament.

In the 19th century, James Morrin (1824-1892) was a Canadian politician and businessman. He served as the Mayor of Quebec City from 1858 to 1859 and played a significant role in the development of the city's infrastructure and economy.

These are just a few examples of individuals bearing the surname Morrin throughout history, demonstrating its presence and significance in various regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morrin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morrin 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. Lancashire leads with 32 Morrins recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.68x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 32 1.68x
Dumfriesshire 31 87.20x
Lanarkshire 14 2.69x
Kirkcudbrightshire 12 51.50x
Perthshire 11 15.23x
Yorkshire 10 0.63x
Cheshire 9 2.53x
Renfrewshire 9 7.22x
Durham 8 1.67x
Northumberland 8 3.34x
Cumberland 3 2.17x
Middlesex 3 0.19x
Staffordshire 3 0.55x
Stirlingshire 3 5.05x
Banffshire 1 3.00x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.98x
Channel Islands 1 2.10x
Denbighshire 1 1.65x
Essex 1 0.31x
Midlothian 1 0.46x
Monmouthshire 1 0.86x
Sussex 1 0.37x
Warwickshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holywood in Dumfriesshire leads with 13 Morrins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2203.39x.

Place Total Index
Holywood 13 2203.39x
Perth East Church 11 161.53x
Barony 10 7.59x
Closeburn 9 1084.34x
Birkenhead 8 28.25x
Tynemouth 7 54.60x
Hulme 6 15.05x
Liverpool 6 5.17x
Dumfries 5 142.45x
Everton 5 8.21x
Paisley Low Church 5 126.58x
Bishop Middleham 4 1538.46x
Kelton 4 209.42x
Kirkmichael 4 851.06x
Salford 4 7.12x
Warrington 4 17.67x
West Greenock 4 17.87x
Bilston 3 28.49x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 9.89x
Glasgow 3 3.25x
Harton 3 158.73x
Horton In Bradford 3 12.04x
Irongray 3 697.67x
Sheffield 3 5.91x
St George Hanover 3 14.28x
Stirling 3 40.11x
Troqueer 3 98.04x
Parton 2 243.90x
Toxteth Park 2 3.09x
Wortley In Bramley 2 15.84x
Alvah 1 133.33x
Birmingham 1 0.74x
Borgue 1 158.73x
Bradford 1 2.59x
Colvend 1 140.85x
Edinburgh Old 1 76.34x
Govan 1 0.78x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 4.82x
Hoose 1 149.25x
Horsham 1 18.98x
Newmarket All Sts 1 133.33x
Normanby In 1 23.47x
Oldham 1 1.62x
Pendleton In Salford 1 4.40x
Prittlewell 1 22.73x
St Bees 1 156.25x
St Mary 1 181.82x
St Woollos 1 7.70x
Thirlwall 1 303.03x
Wrexham Regis 1 22.17x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
Michael 6
Thomas 4
Patrick 3
David 2
Isaac 2
James 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
William 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Morris 1

FAQ

Morrin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morrin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 165 people were recorded with the Morrin surname. That placed it at #14,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morrin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 433 in 2016. That gives Morrin a modern rank of #11,120.

What does the Morrin surname mean?

A variation of the more common surname "Morin", derived from the given name Maurice.

What does the Morrin map show?

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