NameCensus.

UK surname

Mortimore

A locational surname, possibly referring to a place with fertile soil or abundant meadows.

In the 1881 census there were 1,124 people recorded with the Mortimore surname, ranking it #3,548 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,134, ranked #5,195, down from #3,548 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Devon, Teignbridge and Southampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mortimore is 1,257 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.9%.

1881 census count

1,124

Ranked #3,548

Modern count

1,134

2016, ranked #5,195

Peak year

1901

1,257 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mortimore had 1,124 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,548 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,134 in 2016, ranked #5,195.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,257 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mortimore surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mortimore surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mortimore 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 1,036 #2,705
1861 historical 891 #3,110
1881 historical 1,124 #3,548
1891 historical 1,052 #3,988
1901 historical 1,257 #3,942
1911 historical 1,256 #3,784
1997 modern 1,127 #4,969
1998 modern 1,152 #5,047
1999 modern 1,185 #4,988
2000 modern 1,163 #5,032
2001 modern 1,137 #5,040
2002 modern 1,146 #5,104
2003 modern 1,129 #5,066
2004 modern 1,139 #5,040
2005 modern 1,085 #5,190
2006 modern 1,081 #5,208
2007 modern 1,068 #5,308
2008 modern 1,079 #5,298
2009 modern 1,099 #5,323
2010 modern 1,115 #5,372
2011 modern 1,098 #5,382
2012 modern 1,124 #5,193
2013 modern 1,149 #5,189
2014 modern 1,140 #5,237
2015 modern 1,115 #5,297
2016 modern 1,134 #5,195

Geography

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Where Mortimores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes, Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner and Broad Clist. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Devon, Teignbridge and Southampton. 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 Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin Devon
2 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner Hampshire
5 Broad Clist Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Devon 003 West Devon
2 Teignbridge 019 Teignbridge
3 Southampton 013 Southampton
4 Teignbridge 003 Teignbridge
5 Teignbridge 008 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mortimore

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mortimore

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Mortimore is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mortimore is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mortimore falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mortimore

The surname Mortimore is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "mor" meaning "moor" or "marsh" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "settlement". Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a marshy area or moorland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Mortunemere". This entry refers to a place name in Devonshire, which suggests that the name Mortimore may have originated in this region of southwest England.

During the 13th century, the name was commonly spelled as "Mortemore" or "Mortemere". These variations reflect the different dialects and spelling conventions of the time. In the 14th century, the name began to take on its modern spelling of "Mortimore".

Notable individuals with the surname Mortimore include Sir John Mortimore (1568-1638), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Devon in the early 17th century. Another prominent figure was Sir William Mortimore (1620-1701), a renowned military commander who fought in the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the name Mortimore gained recognition through the works of the poet and playwright, Robert Mortimore (1730-1808). His plays and poems were widely popular during his lifetime and helped to establish the name in literary circles.

The 19th century saw the birth of several influential Mortimores, including the renowned architect, Sir Charles Mortimore (1835-1911). He was responsible for designing numerous landmark buildings across England, including the iconic St. Pancras Railway Station in London.

Another notable figure from this era was Sir Arthur Mortimore (1860-1942), a pioneering medical researcher who made significant contributions to the understanding of infectious diseases. His work played a crucial role in the development of modern medical practices and public health initiatives.

Throughout history, the surname Mortimore has maintained its strong association with the English countryside, particularly in the regions of Devon and Cornwall. While the name has spread across the globe, its roots remain firmly planted in the marshy landscapes and rural settlements of southwestern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mortimore families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mortimore 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 554 Mortimores recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.17x.

County Total Index
Devon 554 24.17x
Middlesex 111 1.01x
Hampshire 56 2.48x
Gloucestershire 53 2.45x
Surrey 46 0.86x
Lancashire 44 0.34x
Somerset 33 1.86x
Cornwall 26 2.09x
Wiltshire 23 2.36x
Kent 18 0.48x
Leicestershire 18 1.47x
Berkshire 17 2.06x
Oxfordshire 16 2.35x
Sussex 13 0.70x
Bedfordshire 12 2.10x
Cheshire 12 0.49x
Staffordshire 12 0.32x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.74x
Hertfordshire 10 1.32x
Denbighshire 8 1.92x
Durham 7 0.21x
Essex 5 0.23x
Yorkshire 5 0.05x
Glamorgan 4 0.21x
Royal Navy 4 3.05x
Northamptonshire 3 0.29x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.30x
Warwickshire 2 0.07x
Worcestershire 2 0.14x
Dorset 1 0.14x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Broad Clist in Devon leads with 31 Mortimores recorded in 1881 and an index of 391.91x.

Place Total Index
Broad Clist 31 391.91x
Alverstoke 27 33.04x
Wolborough 26 89.72x
Hackney London 25 4.05x
Sidmouth 24 182.93x
Exeter St Thomas The 22 94.14x
East Stonehouse 20 44.29x
West Teignmouth 20 114.03x
Chippenham 19 93.00x
Bradninch 18 278.21x
Plymouth St Andrew 18 10.19x
Tormoham 17 17.53x
Exeter St Mary Major 16 115.77x
Plymouth Charles The 16 15.84x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 13 6.39x
St George Hanover 13 9.04x
Bromham 12 975.61x
Exeter Heavitree 12 70.22x
Modbury 12 205.13x
Portsea 12 2.71x
Ashburton 11 100.37x
Calstock 11 44.99x
Camberwell 11 1.56x
Exeter St Sidwell 11 20.95x
Lidford 11 106.80x
Mile End Old Town 11 6.33x
Rodborough 11 105.47x
Sandford 11 196.08x
Warrington 11 7.10x
Enderby 10 158.23x
Liverpool 10 1.26x
Bitton 9 47.87x
Dartmouth Townstall 9 96.36x
Hammersmith London 9 3.32x
Islington London 9 0.84x
Litton 9 1097.56x
Newton St Cyres 9 279.50x
St Marylebone London 9 1.53x
Stoke Damerel 9 5.61x
Bedminster 8 4.80x
Bersham 8 45.10x
Chudleigh 8 109.74x
Hemel Hempstead 8 23.39x
Nottingham St Mary 8 2.08x
Rockbeare 8 449.44x
St Germans 8 91.95x
White Waltham 8 258.06x
Blackawton 7 175.00x
Brixham 7 26.36x
Clitheroe 7 18.20x
Crediton 7 32.23x
Cuddesdon 7 376.34x
Handsworth 7 7.64x
Ilminster 7 56.54x
Kenn 7 196.08x
Kingswear 7 380.43x
Leominster 7 117.06x
Longstock 7 426.83x
Marldon 7 364.58x
Mortlake 7 29.26x
Plympton Maurice 7 161.66x
Shoreditch London 7 1.47x
South Tawton 7 147.99x
St Pancras London 7 0.79x
Totnes 7 52.20x
West Kirby 7 165.48x
Bermondsey 6 1.83x
Buckland Monachorum 6 122.45x
Chagford 6 109.29x
Cullompton 6 59.94x
Dartmouth St Saviour 6 91.60x
Deptford St Paul 6 2.07x
Ilsington 6 149.63x
Manaton 6 480.00x
Plympton St Mary 6 45.28x
Westbury On Trym 6 8.20x
Whitworth 6 25.01x
Everton 5 1.20x
Tranmere 5 5.60x
Withycombe Rawleigh 5 41.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 91
John 63
George 53
Thomas 34
James 33
Henry 30
Charles 26
Alfred 16
Robert 11
Frank 10
Harry 10
Samuel 9
Albert 7
Joseph 7
Richard 7
Walter 7
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Edwin 5
Frederick 5
Wm. 5
Ernest 4
Francis 3
Geo. 3
Peter 3
R. 3
Ralph 3
Thos. 3
Willm. 3
Andrew 2
Chas. 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Hermann 2
Lewis 2
Roger 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Archibald 1
David 1
Dudley 1
E...rce 1
Fr.Thos. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo 1
Mary 1
Micael 1
Michael 1
Wm.Saml. 1

FAQ

Mortimore surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mortimore surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,124 people were recorded with the Mortimore surname. That placed it at #3,548 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mortimore surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,134 in 2016. That gives Mortimore a modern rank of #5,195.

What does the Mortimore surname mean?

A locational surname, possibly referring to a place with fertile soil or abundant meadows.

What does the Mortimore map show?

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