NameCensus.

UK surname

Morten

Derived from the Norman French "mor" meaning dead or lifeless.

In the 1881 census there were 459 people recorded with the Morten surname, ranking it #7,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 421, ranked #11,388, down from #7,225 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Glossop and Upton with Chalvey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include High Peak and Slough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morten is 497 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.3%.

1881 census count

459

Ranked #7,225

Modern count

421

2016, ranked #11,388

Peak year

1901

497 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morten had 459 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,225 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 421 in 2016, ranked #11,388.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 497 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Morten surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morten surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morten 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 348 #6,765
1861 historical 420 #6,114
1881 historical 459 #7,225
1891 historical 475 #7,734
1901 historical 497 #8,090
1911 historical 476 #8,124
1997 modern 469 #9,759
1998 modern 472 #10,032
1999 modern 487 #9,866
2000 modern 482 #9,901
2001 modern 472 #9,873
2002 modern 488 #9,802
2003 modern 463 #10,026
2004 modern 447 #10,369
2005 modern 445 #10,295
2006 modern 442 #10,388
2007 modern 449 #10,350
2008 modern 448 #10,458
2009 modern 456 #10,558
2010 modern 463 #10,660
2011 modern 472 #10,400
2012 modern 440 #10,849
2013 modern 453 #10,774
2014 modern 443 #11,038
2015 modern 427 #11,292
2016 modern 421 #11,388

Geography

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Where Mortens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Glossop, Upton with Chalvey, London parishes and Hope. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to High Peak and Slough. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Hope Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 High Peak 008 High Peak
2 High Peak 013 High Peak
3 Slough 005 Slough
4 High Peak 012 High Peak
5 Slough 001 Slough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morten

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morten

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Morten surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Morten household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Morten 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

Morten is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Morten falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Morten 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 Morten, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Morten

The surname Morten is of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Mort" which means "dead" or "dead man". It is believed to have originated as a nickname in the Middle Ages, possibly given to someone who had a deathly pale complexion or worked in a profession closely associated with death, such as a gravedigger or undertaker.

The earliest known record of the surname Morten can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Mortain". This early variation of the name suggests that it may have originated in the regions of Normandy or Brittany in France before being brought to England by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records as "Morteyn", "Morteyne", and "Morteine", reflecting the varying spellings and pronunciations of the name during that time period. By the 14th century, the spelling had evolved to the more recognizable "Morten" form.

One notable bearer of the Morten surname was Sir John Morten, a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament who lived during the late 15th century. Another was Sir William Morten, a respected judge and legal scholar who served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench in the early 17th century.

In the literary world, the name is associated with the English poet and playwright John Morten (1590-1627), who was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and is known for his collection of poems titled "The Doleful Lay of the Deserted Bride".

During the colonial era, the Morten surname made its way to the Americas, with early settlers bearing the name arriving in New England and Virginia in the 17th century. One such individual was Thomas Morten, who was born in England in 1620 and later immigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony, where he became a prominent landowner and community leader.

Another notable figure with the Morten surname was John Morten (1765-1834), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and is credited with charting and mapping several islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morten families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morten 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. Derbyshire leads with 128 Mortens recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.38x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 128 18.38x
Middlesex 78 1.75x
Buckinghamshire 40 14.87x
Cheshire 33 3.36x
Surrey 30 1.38x
Yorkshire 26 0.59x
Essex 24 2.73x
Lancashire 18 0.34x
Kent 16 1.05x
Staffordshire 15 1.00x
Durham 8 0.60x
Hertfordshire 8 2.61x
Hampshire 7 0.77x
Herefordshire 4 2.19x
Suffolk 4 0.74x
Somerset 3 0.42x
Devon 2 0.22x
Westmorland 2 2.05x
Angus 1 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.35x
Channel Islands 1 0.76x
Lanarkshire 1 0.07x
Leicestershire 1 0.20x
Norfolk 1 0.15x
Northumberland 1 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x
Sussex 1 0.13x
Warwickshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fernilee in Derbyshire leads with 28 Mortens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1728.40x.

Place Total Index
Fernilee 28 1728.40x
Upton Cum Chalvey 27 251.87x
Chapel En Le Frith 25 393.08x
Yeardsley Cum Whaley 21 1082.47x
Greenwich 14 19.77x
West Ham 13 6.71x
Buxton 11 186.76x
St Pancras London 11 3.07x
Beeley 10 1818.18x
Brightside Bierlow 10 11.57x
Mellor 10 529.10x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 5.65x
Amersham 8 209.97x
Sarratt 8 747.66x
Shoreditch London 8 4.15x
St Marylebone London 8 3.37x
Harrow On The Hill 7 78.74x
Lambeth 7 1.80x
Poynton 7 212.12x
Camberwell 6 2.11x
Clapham 6 10.79x
Fairfield 6 128.76x
Hartington Upper 6 180.72x
Wormhill 6 410.96x
Banstead 5 85.18x
Denton 5 42.74x
Derby St Werburgh 5 12.43x
Ecclesfield 5 15.47x
Edensor 5 1136.36x
Fulham London 5 7.75x
Great Bolton 5 7.15x
Hayfield 5 117.10x
Hillingdon 5 35.26x
St George Bloomsbury 5 19.59x
Willesden 5 11.92x
Alverstoke 4 12.12x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 9.74x
Cheddleton 4 127.39x
Chelmorton 4 1111.11x
Denham 4 208.33x
Derby All Sts 4 68.73x
Hampton London 4 54.72x
Heap 4 14.29x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 6.98x
Lexden 4 113.64x
St George Hanover 4 6.89x
Beccles 3 34.40x
Bredbury 3 52.82x
Colchester St Giles 3 34.56x
Framwellgate 3 38.27x
Hereford St John 3 144.23x
Kingston On Thames 3 5.76x
Nether Hallam 3 5.03x
St Mary Extra 3 40.87x
Wyke In Bradford 3 38.07x
Baslow With Bubnell 2 156.25x
Burton 2 194.17x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.39x
Dukinfield 2 4.41x
Eythorne 2 281.69x
Hackney London 2 0.80x
Hampstead London 2 2.89x
Hayes 2 44.05x
Islington London 2 0.46x
Madeley 2 53.48x
Portishead 2 37.59x
St Giles In Fields 2 13.04x
Teddington London 2 19.84x
Westleigh 2 16.68x
White Notley 2 285.71x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 1 21.83x
Brighton 1 0.66x
Carshalton 1 12.06x
Edgbaston 1 2.88x
Littleport 1 18.59x
Northolt 1 131.58x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.64x
Paddington London 1 0.61x
St Helier 1 2.33x
York St Saviour 1 23.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 15
Ann 11
Emma 9
Alice 8
Eliza 7
Annie 6
Emily 6
Hannah 5
Margaret 5
Martha 5
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Maria 4
Ellen 3
Grace 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Betty 2
Clara 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Letitia 2
Lydia 2
Rose 2
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Evriatta 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Hildia 1
Ketona 1
Lillie 1
Lizzie 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Margarett 1
Margret 1
Marrias 1
Marrion 1
Marry 1
Wm. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 20
George 16
Thomas 16
Henry 15
Charles 10
James 10
Edward 9
Joseph 8
Alfred 6
Ralph 6
Edwin 5
Richard 5
Robert 5
Walter 5
Benjamin 4
Frederick 4
Adam 3
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Samuel 3
Abraham 2
Colin 2
Herbert 2
Hiram 2
Mark 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Amos 1
Andrew 1
Daniel 1
Dudley 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Hamish 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Jerima 1
Joel 1
Lewis 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Nathian 1
Redfern 1
Richd. 1
Septimus 1
Wm.George 1

FAQ

Morten surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morten surname in 1881?

In 1881, 459 people were recorded with the Morten surname. That placed it at #7,225 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morten surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 421 in 2016. That gives Morten a modern rank of #11,388.

What does the Morten surname mean?

Derived from the Norman French "mor" meaning dead or lifeless.

What does the Morten map show?

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