NameCensus.

UK surname

Mure

A French surname originating from the word "mure" meaning wall or rampart.

In the 1881 census there were 140 people recorded with the Mure surname, ranking it #16,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 98, ranked #31,470, down from #16,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Beith, London parishes and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kilwinning Whitehirst Park and Woodside, Errol and Inchture and Erskine Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mure is 205 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.0%.

1881 census count

140

Ranked #16,151

Modern count

98

2016, ranked #31,470

Peak year

1861

205 bearers

Map years

4

1851 to 1891

Key insights

  • Mure had 140 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016, ranked #31,470.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 205 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mure surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mure surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mure 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 191 #10,808
1861 historical 205 #11,769
1881 historical 140 #16,151
1891 historical 104 #23,388
1901 historical 86 #24,508
1911 historical 36 #29,370
1997 modern 80 #29,554
1998 modern 80 #29,966
1999 modern 74 #30,759
2000 modern 78 #30,361
2001 modern 78 #30,168
2002 modern 77 #30,709
2003 modern 78 #30,654
2004 modern 81 #30,569
2005 modern 85 #30,219
2006 modern 85 #30,556
2007 modern 81 #31,408
2008 modern 82 #31,597
2009 modern 82 #32,048
2010 modern 82 #32,492
2011 modern 88 #31,801
2012 modern 95 #31,107
2013 modern 99 #30,934
2014 modern 102 #30,714
2015 modern 100 #31,005
2016 modern 98 #31,470

Geography

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Where Mures are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Beith, London parishes, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kilwinning Whitehirst Park and Woodside, Errol and Inchture, Erskine Central, Plymouth and Inverness West Rural. 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 Beith Ayr
2 London parishes London 1
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kilwinning Whitehirst Park and Woodside North Ayrshire
2 Errol and Inchture Perth and Kinross
3 Erskine Central Renfrewshire
4 Plymouth 007 Plymouth
5 Inverness West Rural Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mure

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mure

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mure 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

Mure 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

Mure falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mure is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mure

The surname Mure has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "mur," meaning "wall" or "rampart," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near a fortified structure or worked as builders or masons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it appears as "Mure" and "Muir." This historical document recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 14th century, the Mure family played a significant role in Scottish history. Sir Reginald Mure (c. 1315-1370) was a prominent Scottish knight who fought alongside King David II at the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346. His son, Sir William Mure (c. 1340-1420), was also a notable figure, serving as a diplomat and ambassador for the Scottish crown.

The name is closely associated with the Renfrewshire region of Scotland, where the Mures were once a prominent landowning family. The town of Muirkirk, derived from the Old English "mur" and the Scottish "kirk" (meaning "church"), is believed to have been named after the Mure family, who held lands in the area.

In the 16th century, Sir Adam Mure (c. 1510-1588) was a Scottish judge and writer who served as a Lord of Session. He is best known for his work "The Description of the Shyre of Renfrew," a valuable historical account of the region.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir William Mure (1594-1657), a Scottish poet and politician who served as a member of the Scottish Parliament. His collection of poems, "The True Crucifixe for True Catholiques," was published in 1629.

In the 18th century, Jane Mure (1766-1846) was a Scottish author and translator who published works on religion and history. Her brother, William Mure (1770-1831), was a classical scholar and member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Throughout history, the Mure surname has been associated with various locations and place names in Scotland, such as Muirhouse, Muiravonside, and Muirkirk, further reflecting the family's deep roots in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mure families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mure 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. Lanarkshire leads with 20 Mures recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.56x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 20 4.56x
Renfrewshire 18 17.13x
Ayrshire 14 13.80x
Middlesex 13 0.96x
Midlothian 12 6.61x
Fife 8 9.97x
Northumberland 8 3.97x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 35.66x
Lancashire 5 0.31x
Angus 4 3.18x
Durham 4 0.99x
Hampshire 4 1.44x
Royal Navy 2 12.38x
Suffolk 2 1.21x
Surrey 2 0.30x
Sussex 2 0.87x
Wigtownshire 2 11.11x
Argyllshire 1 2.65x
Carmarthenshire 1 1.75x
Devon 1 0.35x
East Lothian 1 5.57x
Essex 1 0.37x
Hertfordshire 1 1.07x
Kent 1 0.22x
Orkney 1 6.70x
Peeblesshire 1 15.67x
Perthshire 1 1.64x
Ross-shire 1 2.69x
Yorkshire 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. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 11 Mures recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.91x.

Place Total Index
Barony 11 9.91x
Paisley High Church 10 119.47x
Dairsie 8 2424.24x
Elswick 8 49.69x
Glasgow 7 8.99x
Ayr 6 125.26x
Kirkcudbright 6 370.37x
St Luke London 6 27.59x
Beith 5 165.02x
Edinburgh St Stephens 5 139.66x
Dundee 4 8.53x
St George Hanover 4 22.60x
Abbey 3 18.71x
Duddingston 3 82.19x
Holdenhurst 3 41.15x
Kirkdale 3 11.09x
West Greenock 3 15.91x
Accrington 2 13.67x
Birtley 2 121.21x
Camberwell 2 2.31x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 2.74x
Escomb 2 108.11x
Herringswell 2 2222.22x
Kirkmaiden 2 175.44x
South Leith 2 9.78x
St Marylebone London 2 2.76x
Tarbolton 2 119.76x
Willingdon 2 344.83x
Applecross 1 95.24x
Bothwell 1 8.41x
Broxbourne 1 54.05x
Canterbury St Mary 1 32.26x
East Ham 1 20.12x
Farnborough 1 34.25x
Govan 1 0.92x
Innerwick 1 277.78x
Kells 1 222.22x
Kilfinan 1 99.01x
Kilmarnock 1 8.28x
Llanelly 1 7.77x
Lochwinnoch 1 63.69x
Paddington London 1 2.01x
Paisley Middle Church 1 16.34x
Peebles 1 53.19x
Plymouth Charles The 1 8.05x
Port Of Monteith 1 181.82x
Royal Navy 1 7.24x
South Ronaldshay 1 64.94x
Southcoates 1 13.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Helen 2
Ann 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Eleanor 1
Emma 1
Jane 1
Joan 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Rachel 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 5
Charles 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
James 1
Larence 1
Martin 1
Mattw. 1
Michael 1
Reginald 1

Top occupations

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 Mure households.

FAQ

Mure surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mure surname in 1881?

In 1881, 140 people were recorded with the Mure surname. That placed it at #16,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mure surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016. That gives Mure a modern rank of #31,470.

What does the Mure surname mean?

A French surname originating from the word "mure" meaning wall or rampart.

What does the Mure map show?

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