UK surname
A surname derived from Latin mors, meaning "death".
In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Mors surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 31, ranked #35,942, down from #30,464 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Pancras, St James Clerkenwell and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mors is 371 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.9%.
1881 census count
22
Ranked #30,464
Modern count
31
2016, ranked #35,942
Peak year
1891
371 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mors surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mors surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 21 | #29,550 |
| 1861 | historical | 137 | #16,465 |
| 1881 | historical | 22 | #30,464 |
| 1891 | historical | 371 | #9,405 |
| 1901 | historical | 34 | #30,281 |
| 1911 | historical | 64 | #26,435 |
| 1997 | modern | 26 | #35,135 |
| 1998 | modern | 30 | #34,833 |
| 1999 | modern | 32 | #34,717 |
| 2000 | modern | 26 | #35,295 |
| 2001 | modern | 26 | #35,152 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 24 | #35,827 |
| 2006 | modern | 25 | #35,903 |
| 2007 | modern | 24 | #36,072 |
| 2008 | modern | 26 | #36,012 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 30 | #35,949 |
| 2012 | modern | 34 | #35,711 |
| 2013 | modern | 30 | #35,990 |
| 2014 | modern | 36 | #35,662 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 31 | #35,942 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Pancras, St James Clerkenwell, Manchester, Lambeth and St George the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 2 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mors surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mors, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mors surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mors household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mors is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mors is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mors, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Mors has its origins in France, tracing back to the medieval period around the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "mors," meaning "death" or "mortality," potentially referring to a grim or serious individual or perhaps someone who worked in a profession related to death, such as a gravedigger or undertaker.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mors can be found in the Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Savigny, a collection of charters from the Savigny Abbey in Normandy, dated around 1150. This document mentions a certain "Willelmus Mors," suggesting that the name was already in use by that time.
In England, the surname Mors is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey conducted during the reign of King Edward I. This document lists a "Robertus Mors" from the county of Oxfordshire, indicating the presence of the name in England during the 13th century.
Historically, the surname Mors has been associated with various locations and place names. For instance, in the 14th century, there was a village called "Morsum" in Normandy, France, which could have influenced the surname's spelling and development.
Notable individuals who bore the surname Mors throughout history include:
1. Jacques Mors (c. 1550 - 1619), a French painter and engraver known for his works depicting religious and mythological subjects. 2. Étienne Mors (1637 - 1705), a French mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of calculus and the study of celestial mechanics. 3. Jean-Baptiste Mors (1768 - 1842), a French engineer and inventor who is credited with developing one of the earliest forms of the internal combustion engine. 4. Henri Mors (1845 - 1910), a French industrialist and pioneer in the automotive industry, founding the Mors automobile company in 1895. 5. Marie-Thérèse Mors (1886 - 1968), a French novelist and essayist who explored themes of love, identity, and the human condition in her works.
While the surname Mors may have originated from a rather somber meaning, it has become a part of the rich tapestry of European history, with individuals bearing this name leaving their mark in various fields, from art and literature to science and industry.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mors surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 6 Mors' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 6 | 2.80x |
| Surrey | 5 | 4.79x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 1.57x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 1.88x |
| Essex | 1 | 2.36x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 2.92x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.85x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 5 Mors' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.06x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 5 | 24.06x |
| Huddersfield | 4 | 129.03x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 21.39x |
| West Derby | 4 | 53.76x |
| Alford | 1 | 476.19x |
| Aston | 1 | 6.72x |
| Leatherhead | 1 | 384.62x |
| Stansted Mountfitchet | 1 | 909.09x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 126.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mors surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mors surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mors households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Butcher | 3 |
| Bank Messenger | 1 |
| Cashier | 1 |
| Crochet Worker | 1 |
| Domest Servt Nurse | 1 |
| Nurse Maid | 1 |
| Sawyer | 1 |
| Upholsterer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Mors surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 31 in 2016. That gives Mors a modern rank of #35,942.
A surname derived from Latin mors, meaning "death".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mors bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.