NameCensus.

UK surname

Mortlock

An English surname transferred from a place name derived from Old English elements meaning "dead" and "lake".

In the 1881 census there were 929 people recorded with the Mortlock surname, ranking it #4,139 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,237, ranked #4,827, down from #4,139 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Clare, London parishes and Shimpling. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, St Edmundsbury and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mortlock is 1,354 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.2%.

1881 census count

929

Ranked #4,139

Modern count

1,237

2016, ranked #4,827

Peak year

1998

1,354 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mortlock had 929 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,139 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,237 in 2016, ranked #4,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,300 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mortlock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mortlock surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mortlock 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 612 #4,216
1861 historical 589 #4,487
1881 historical 929 #4,139
1891 historical 1,027 #4,057
1901 historical 1,214 #4,057
1911 historical 1,300 #3,667
1997 modern 1,293 #4,411
1998 modern 1,354 #4,396
1999 modern 1,352 #4,435
2000 modern 1,336 #4,461
2001 modern 1,319 #4,436
2002 modern 1,320 #4,509
2003 modern 1,268 #4,578
2004 modern 1,272 #4,574
2005 modern 1,252 #4,598
2006 modern 1,234 #4,663
2007 modern 1,245 #4,671
2008 modern 1,264 #4,622
2009 modern 1,254 #4,766
2010 modern 1,273 #4,799
2011 modern 1,247 #4,827
2012 modern 1,220 #4,849
2013 modern 1,274 #4,741
2014 modern 1,271 #4,781
2015 modern 1,247 #4,818
2016 modern 1,237 #4,827

Geography

Back to top

Where Mortlocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Clare, London parishes, Shimpling and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, St Edmundsbury, East Staffordshire, Doncaster and North East Lincolnshire. 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 Clare Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Shimpling Suffolk
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 002 Mid Suffolk
2 St Edmundsbury 008 St Edmundsbury
3 East Staffordshire 014 East Staffordshire
4 Doncaster 002 Doncaster
5 North East Lincolnshire 004 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mortlock

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mortlock

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

Mortlock 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

Mortlock 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 Mortlock 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 Mortlock, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mortlock

The surname Mortlock is of English origin, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Suffolk, where it was likely derived from a place name, such as Mortlake or Mortlock's Green.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mortlock can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1327, where a John Mortlok is listed as a taxpayer. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the 14th century.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family from Norfolk. In one letter dated 1472, a reference is made to a Robert Mortlock, indicating that the name had spread beyond its initial origins in Suffolk.

During the Tudor period, the Mortlock surname gained prominence in London, where several individuals bearing the name held positions of importance. In the 16th century, a Richard Mortlock served as a member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, one of the prestigious livery companies of the City of London.

One notable figure was Sir John Mortlock (1656-1736), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1693-1694. He was known for his generosity and contributed significantly to the construction of several churches in the city, including St. Mary Woolnoth and St. Michael Paternoster Royal.

In the 18th century, the Mortlock family established itself in the field of publishing. James Mortlock (1712-1779) founded a successful printing business in London, which remained in operation until the early 19th century. His son, John Mortlock (1745-1811), continued the family tradition and published works by renowned authors such as Samuel Johnson and Oliver Goldsmith.

Another notable figure was John Mortlock (1805-1879), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Andrew Undershaft and the Royal Masonic School for Boys in Bushey, Hertfordshire.

Throughout history, variations in the spelling of the surname have been observed, including Mortlake, Mortloch, and Mortlogh. While the name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and colonial expansion.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mortlock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mortlock 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. Suffolk leads with 219 Mortlocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.80x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 219 19.80x
Middlesex 218 2.40x
Essex 119 6.64x
Kent 74 2.39x
Cambridgeshire 59 10.26x
Surrey 47 1.06x
Lancashire 29 0.27x
Norfolk 27 1.93x
Huntingdonshire 20 11.09x
Hampshire 15 0.81x
Lincolnshire 14 0.96x
Yorkshire 13 0.14x
Hertfordshire 10 1.60x
Sussex 8 0.52x
Berkshire 7 1.03x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.57x
Staffordshire 7 0.23x
Devon 6 0.32x
Westmorland 6 3.01x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.91x
Cumberland 4 0.51x
Worcestershire 4 0.34x
Gloucestershire 3 0.17x
Warwickshire 2 0.09x
Bedfordshire 1 0.21x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Midlothian 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 0.92x
Somerset 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shimpling in Suffolk leads with 39 Mortlocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2549.02x.

Place Total Index
Shimpling 39 2549.02x
Bromley London 26 13.01x
Peldon 23 1619.72x
Islington London 21 2.39x
Cavendish 20 560.22x
Gazeley 20 769.23x
Clare 19 358.49x
Kensington London 17 3.37x
Denham 16 1159.42x
Hackney London 16 3.14x
Tottenham 16 11.06x
Newmarket All Sts 13 306.60x
Plumstead 13 12.59x
Chevington 12 693.64x
Wivenhoe 12 168.54x
Camberwell 11 1.90x
Ealing 11 13.55x
Holywell Cum Needingworth 11 486.73x
Mile End Old Town 11 7.67x
St Andrew Holborn 11 35.73x
West Derby 11 3.49x
St Pancras London 10 1.37x
Colchester St Botolph 9 59.02x
East Ham 9 27.05x
Great Bardfield 9 305.08x
Hempstead 9 459.18x
Hundon 9 326.09x
Lambeth 9 1.14x
Lawshall 9 362.90x
Mildenhall 9 76.60x
St George Hanover 9 7.59x
West Ham 9 2.27x
Chelmsford 8 26.01x
March 8 41.54x
South Kyme 8 484.85x
Caxton 7 395.48x
Chedburgh 7 886.08x
Cookham 7 32.94x
Croydon 7 2.85x
Long Melford 7 68.09x
Pidley Cum Fenton 7 503.60x
Poplar London 7 4.08x
Southampton All Sts 7 21.92x
West Rudham 7 476.19x
Westminster St James 7 7.50x
Barton Mills 6 410.96x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.52x
Bishop Stortford 6 28.69x
Chatham 6 7.04x
Fleet 6 144.93x
Great Welnetham 6 437.96x
Horninglow 6 41.55x
Hunslet 6 4.28x
Mundford 6 674.16x
Newark Upon Trent 6 13.64x
Norwood 6 28.89x
Pinner 6 75.38x
Portsea 6 1.64x
Sheering 6 355.03x
St Edward Cambridge 6 327.87x
Tormoham 6 7.50x
Undermilbeck 6 91.19x
Battersea 5 1.50x
Bow London 5 4.32x
Bradfield St George 5 362.32x
Bromley 5 10.59x
Bury St Edmunds St James 5 16.92x
Castleton 5 4.65x
Great Yarmouth 5 4.32x
Hammersmith London 5 2.24x
Horton Kirby 5 104.38x
Leigh 5 123.46x
Lewisham 5 3.03x
Ramsgate 5 9.89x
Woolwich 5 4.37x
Crayford 4 29.56x
Hampstead London 4 2.83x
Lee 4 8.89x
St Andrewthe Less 4 6.09x
St Osyth 4 91.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 45
George 31
John 30
James 28
Charles 25
Henry 21
Harry 16
Thomas 16
Alfred 13
Walter 13
Arthur 12
Frederick 12
Joseph 12
Robert 12
Samuel 11
Albert 8
Edward 8
Herbert 8
Ernest 7
Wm. 7
Richard 5
Thos. 5
Edmund 4
Fredk. 4
Luke 4
Edgar 3
Frank 3
Peter 3
Sidney 3
Ambrose 2
Elijah 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Josiah 2
Philip 2
Phillip 2
Victor 2
Westall 2
Abram 1
Chs. 1
Daniel 1
Ebenezer 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Jos. 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1

FAQ

Mortlock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mortlock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 929 people were recorded with the Mortlock surname. That placed it at #4,139 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mortlock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,237 in 2016. That gives Mortlock a modern rank of #4,827.

What does the Mortlock surname mean?

An English surname transferred from a place name derived from Old English elements meaning "dead" and "lake".

What does the Mortlock map show?

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