NameCensus.

UK surname

Morrish

A surname derived from the Old French "moris" meaning Moorish or dark-skinned.

In the 1881 census there were 1,190 people recorded with the Morrish surname, ranking it #3,390 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,443, ranked #4,254, down from #3,390 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Cornwall and Exeter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morrish is 1,557 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.3%.

1881 census count

1,190

Ranked #3,390

Modern count

1,443

2016, ranked #4,254

Peak year

2002

1,557 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morrish had 1,190 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,390 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,443 in 2016, ranked #4,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,536 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Morrish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morrish surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morrish 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 1,133 #2,487
1861 historical 844 #3,274
1881 historical 1,190 #3,390
1891 historical 1,184 #3,620
1901 historical 1,376 #3,655
1911 historical 1,536 #3,163
1997 modern 1,504 #3,898
1998 modern 1,552 #3,935
1999 modern 1,556 #3,960
2000 modern 1,544 #3,964
2001 modern 1,502 #3,979
2002 modern 1,557 #3,958
2003 modern 1,517 #3,961
2004 modern 1,476 #4,058
2005 modern 1,454 #4,065
2006 modern 1,448 #4,087
2007 modern 1,460 #4,094
2008 modern 1,446 #4,149
2009 modern 1,490 #4,139
2010 modern 1,500 #4,184
2011 modern 1,466 #4,213
2012 modern 1,443 #4,206
2013 modern 1,465 #4,220
2014 modern 1,469 #4,237
2015 modern 1,442 #4,262
2016 modern 1,443 #4,254

Geography

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Where Morrishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes, Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish and Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Cornwall, Exeter and Tunbridge Wells. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish Devon
5 Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 007 Torridge
2 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
3 Exeter 001 Exeter
4 Tunbridge Wells 011 Tunbridge Wells
5 Exeter 002 Exeter

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morrish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morrish

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Morrish, 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 Morrish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Morrish 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Morrish is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Morrish is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Morrish falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Morrish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Morrish

The surname Morrish originated from the Old English word "mōr" meaning marsh or swamp, and was used to refer to someone who lived near a marshy area. It is derived from the Old English pre-7th century word "mōr" and the Old French word "marreis" meaning marsh.

The earliest known record of the Morrish surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Moreis" and referred to a landowner in Somerset, England. This suggests the name's roots can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Morrish surname is William Morrish, born in 1563 in Gloucestershire, England. Another notable bearer of the name was John Morrish, a merchant and member of the Virginia Company, who was born in 1580 in Bristol, England, and played a role in the establishment of the Jamestown Colony in Virginia in the early 17th century.

The Morrish surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Morrishill in Gloucestershire, Morrishtown in Shropshire, and Morrishford in Somerset, which may have influenced the spelling and variations of the surname over time.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the Morrish surname, including:

1. William Morrish (1563-1625), an English clergyman and author from Gloucestershire. 2. John Morrish (1580-1644), an English merchant and member of the Virginia Company, born in Bristol. 3. Thomas Morrish (1705-1784), an English physician and botanist from Gloucestershire. 4. Robert Morrish (1763-1838), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. 5. Samuel Morrish (1816-1891), a British architect and surveyor from Devon, known for his work on several churches and public buildings in the South West of England.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the Morrish surname in various regions of England, as well as its association with different professions and historical events over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morrish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morrish 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. Devon leads with 465 Morrishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.26x.

County Total Index
Devon 465 19.26x
Somerset 144 7.71x
Cornwall 141 10.74x
Middlesex 116 1.00x
Surrey 65 1.15x
Gloucestershire 44 1.93x
Lancashire 27 0.20x
Kent 26 0.66x
Glamorgan 21 1.04x
Yorkshire 21 0.18x
Monmouthshire 17 2.03x
Worcestershire 16 1.06x
Cheshire 14 0.55x
Hampshire 11 0.46x
Carmarthenshire 9 1.84x
Denbighshire 9 2.05x
Staffordshire 9 0.23x
Sussex 8 0.41x
Dorset 7 0.92x
Herefordshire 4 0.84x
Royal Navy 4 2.89x
Essex 3 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.13x
Wiltshire 2 0.20x
Berkshire 1 0.11x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x
Oxfordshire 1 0.14x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crediton in Devon leads with 34 Morrishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 148.60x.

Place Total Index
Crediton 34 148.60x
Redruth 24 64.60x
Bishops Tawton 21 278.88x
Swimbridge 21 430.33x
Saltash 19 186.64x
St Pancras London 19 2.04x
Lambeth 17 1.68x
Bedminster 16 9.12x
Plymouth St Andrew 15 8.07x
Tiverton 15 36.07x
Kenton 14 183.97x
Stoke Damerel 14 8.29x
Wellington 14 55.31x
Exeter Holy Trinity 13 137.42x
Kea 13 132.79x
Plymouth Charles The 13 12.22x
Exeter St Sidwell 12 21.70x
Langport Eastover 12 444.44x
Tormoham 12 11.75x
West Teignmouth 12 64.97x
Bideford 11 42.54x
Brixham 11 39.33x
Dawlish 11 61.08x
St George Hanover 11 7.27x
Bermondsey 10 2.90x
Bristol St James St Paul 10 13.18x
Deptford St Paul 10 3.28x
Newport 10 25.00x
Tedburn St Mary 10 393.70x
Camberwell 9 1.21x
Cardiff St Mary 9 8.09x
Charlton Musgrove 9 555.56x
Cullompton 9 85.39x
High Bickington 9 328.47x
Kensington London 9 1.40x
Powderham 9 803.57x
Ruabon 9 14.94x
Sandford 9 152.54x
Stoke Newington London 9 9.96x
Taunton St James 9 33.05x
Woodbury 9 125.70x
Brighton 8 2.03x
Carmarthen St Peter 8 19.15x
Cheriton Bishop 8 340.43x
Erith 8 20.52x
Exeter Alphington 8 180.59x
Illogan 8 23.01x
Islington London 8 0.71x
Leigh 8 43.50x
Newhall In Nantwich 8 282.69x
Skelton In Guisbrough 8 25.73x
Barnstaple 7 18.47x
Bath St Michael 7 74.23x
Bath St Peter St Paul 7 84.85x
Bristol Temple 7 46.73x
Colebrooke 7 249.11x
Gwennap 7 28.26x
Hornsey 7 4.77x
Long Ashton 7 75.59x
Madron Penzance 7 14.66x
Southwark Christchurch 7 12.88x
St Marylebone London 7 1.13x
Stapleton 7 16.22x
Toxteth Park 7 1.50x
West Derby 7 1.74x
Wimbledon 7 11.03x
Bathwick 6 29.04x
Burlescombe 6 182.93x
Exeter Allhallows On The 6 151.52x
Frome 6 13.44x
Handsworth 6 6.22x
Kenwyn 6 17.47x
Littleham 6 33.99x
Mile End Old Town 6 3.28x
Perranzabuloe 6 52.96x
Ripon 6 22.51x
St Luke London 6 3.23x
Tetcott 6 576.92x
West Stour 6 909.09x
Whitestone 6 327.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 105
Elizabeth 54
Sarah 35
Eliza 28
Emma 28
Ellen 22
Jane 22
Alice 18
Emily 17
Ann 13
Annie 13
Charlotte 13
Bessie 12
Maria 9
Clara 8
Edith 8
Louisa 8
Martha 8
Amelia 7
Fanny 7
Hannah 7
Susan 7
Florence 6
Kate 6
Lucy 6
Harriett 5
Jessie 5
Lydia 5
Rose 5
Amy 4
Anna 4
Caroline 4
Laura 4
Ada 3
Bertha 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Harriet 3
Mabel 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Rachel 3
Rosa 3
Arabella 2
Catherine 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Margret 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 96
John 89
George 47
James 39
Thomas 35
Henry 25
Charles 20
Richard 15
Robert 13
Albert 11
Edward 11
Francis 11
Joseph 11
Samuel 11
Frederick 10
Alfred 8
Ernest 6
Frank 5
Fredrick 5
Walter 5
Andrew 3
Arthur 3
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
C. 2
Earnest 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Mary 2
Moses 2
Philip 2
Ralph 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Augustus 1
Charley 1
Chas.E. 1
Frances 1
Fred.C. 1
Frederic 1
Jeremiah 1
Job 1
Lewis 1
Lydia 1
Montague 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Morrish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morrish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,190 people were recorded with the Morrish surname. That placed it at #3,390 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morrish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,443 in 2016. That gives Morrish a modern rank of #4,254.

What does the Morrish surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French "moris" meaning Moorish or dark-skinned.

What does the Morrish map show?

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