NameCensus.

UK surname

Morrissey

Anglicized form of an Irish surname derived from Ó Muirgheasa, meaning "descendant of Muirgheas" (a personal name meaning "mariner").

In the 1881 census there were 191 people recorded with the Morrissey surname, ranking it #13,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,987, ranked #2,256, up from #13,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morrissey is 3,057 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1463.9%.

1881 census count

191

Ranked #13,224

Modern count

2,987

2016, ranked #2,256

Peak year

2010

3,057 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morrissey had 191 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,987 in 2016, ranked #2,256.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 562 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Morrissey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morrissey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Morrissey 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 86 #22,810
1881 historical 191 #13,224
1891 historical 247 #12,880
1901 historical 409 #9,338
1911 historical 562 #7,170
1997 modern 2,721 #2,351
1998 modern 2,877 #2,331
1999 modern 2,919 #2,322
2000 modern 2,900 #2,322
2001 modern 2,855 #2,302
2002 modern 2,922 #2,308
2003 modern 2,834 #2,320
2004 modern 2,831 #2,328
2005 modern 2,809 #2,311
2006 modern 2,876 #2,257
2007 modern 2,887 #2,270
2008 modern 2,884 #2,289
2009 modern 2,964 #2,282
2010 modern 3,057 #2,261
2011 modern 3,008 #2,272
2012 modern 2,922 #2,290
2013 modern 3,017 #2,257
2014 modern 3,057 #2,236
2015 modern 3,029 #2,230
2016 modern 2,987 #2,256

Geography

Back to top

Where Morrisseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Manchester and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Westminster, North Norfolk and Knowsley. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 002 Pembrokeshire
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 018 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Westminster 001 Westminster
4 North Norfolk 008 North Norfolk
5 Knowsley 004 Knowsley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Morrissey

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Morrissey

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Morrissey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Morrissey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Morrissey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Morrissey is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Morrissey falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Morrissey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Morrissey

The surname Morrissey has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Gaelic name "O'Muirgheasain," which means "descendant of Muirgheasan." Muirgheasan is a personal name composed of the Gaelic elements "muir," meaning sea, and "geasan," meaning charm or spell.

The name Morrissey is found in early Irish records and manuscripts, including the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Domhnall O'Muirgheasain, who lived in the 13th century and was a notable scholar and poet.

In the 16th century, the name was anglicized to Morrissey, with variations such as Morrisey and Morrissy. During this period, the Morrissey family held lands in County Mayo and County Sligo, where they were prominent members of the Irish nobility.

One notable figure from this era was Aodh Mor Morrissey, born around 1530, who was a chieftain of the Morrissey clan and a fierce opponent of English rule in Ireland. He led his clan in the Nine Years' War against the English forces in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Morrissey name appears in the Petty Census of Ireland, a survey of landowners conducted in 1659. This record shows that the Morrisseys were prominent landowners in County Mayo at the time.

Another notable figure was Conall Morrissey, born around 1670, who was a renowned Irish poet and scholar. He was a member of the Gaelic literary revival and wrote extensively in the Irish language.

In the 18th century, the Morrissey name was found among Irish immigrants who fled to America during the Great Famine of the 1840s. One such immigrant was Patrick Morrissey, born in 1820 in County Mayo, who settled in Boston and became a prominent businessman and politician.

Another famous bearer of the name was John Morrissey, born in 1831 in County Westmeath, Ireland. He emigrated to New York and became a bare-knuckle boxer, gambling entrepreneur, and political boss in the mid-19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Morrissey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morrissey 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 68 Morrisseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.04x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 68 3.04x
Cheshire 30 7.22x
Middlesex 20 1.06x
Yorkshire 20 1.07x
Glamorgan 13 3.97x
Northumberland 9 3.21x
Monmouthshire 7 5.14x
Cornwall 4 1.88x
Gloucestershire 4 1.08x
Channel Islands 3 5.38x
Essex 3 0.81x
Kent 2 0.31x
Surrey 2 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.88x
Cumberland 1 0.62x
Devon 1 0.26x
Dorset 1 0.81x
Hampshire 1 0.26x
Northamptonshire 1 0.56x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.39x
Royal Navy 1 4.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hyde in Cheshire leads with 25 Morrisseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 203.92x.

Place Total Index
Hyde 25 203.92x
Salford 19 28.92x
Leeds 13 12.34x
Liverpool 8 5.90x
St Marylebone London 8 7.96x
Failsworth 7 136.99x
Heaton Norris 7 55.07x
Swansea Town 7 26.05x
Toxteth Park 7 9.25x
Longbenton 6 50.59x
Newport 6 92.45x
Birkenhead 5 15.09x
Holy Trinity 5 11.14x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 11.27x
Mawgan In Pyder 4 869.57x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 12.69x
Whitechapel London 4 21.55x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 6.15x
Everton 3 4.21x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 17.93x
Paddington London 3 4.33x
Pemberton 3 33.67x
St George Hanover 3 12.21x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 11.27x
Bristol St Stephen 2 208.33x
Cardiff St Mary 2 11.07x
Manchester 2 1.99x
St Helier 2 11.01x
West Ham 2 2.44x
Aylesbury 1 19.84x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.22x
Bristol St Augustine 1 16.78x
Chatham 1 5.66x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.25x
Clifton 1 5.36x
Crosscanonby 1 18.66x
East Retford 1 45.45x
Elton 1 12.95x
Farnborough 1 24.69x
Great Crosby 1 16.42x
Haughton 1 30.67x
Holme On Spalding Moor 1 81.97x
Keighley 1 5.03x
Lambeth 1 0.61x
Milton In Gravesend 1 10.38x
Sherborne 1 27.47x
South Shoebury 1 67.11x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.64x
St Saviour 1 32.47x
St Woollos 1 6.58x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.65x
Weedon Beck 1 78.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Margaret 16
Catherine 9
Bridget 8
Ellen 7
Elizabeth 6
Ann 5
Agnes 3
Catharine 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anastasia 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Christiana 1
Edith 1
Harriet 1
Hesty 1
Jessie 1
Johannah 1
Julia 1
Margaritsey 1
Sabinah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Morrissey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morrissey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 191 people were recorded with the Morrissey surname. That placed it at #13,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morrissey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,987 in 2016. That gives Morrissey a modern rank of #2,256.

What does the Morrissey surname mean?

Anglicized form of an Irish surname derived from Ó Muirgheasa, meaning "descendant of Muirgheas" (a personal name meaning "mariner").

What does the Morrissey map show?

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