NameCensus.

UK surname

Murrain

An antiquated surname referring to mortality or a deadly pestilence among livestock.

In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Murrain surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, up from #31,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, West Devon and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murrain is 171 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 805.6%.

1881 census count

18

Ranked #31,019

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

2010

171 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murrain had 18 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Murrain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murrain surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Murrain 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 18 #31,019
1891 historical 19 #32,642
1901 historical 27 #31,057
1911 historical 19 #31,416
1997 modern 111 #25,394
1998 modern 130 #23,603
1999 modern 125 #24,366
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 123 #24,242
2002 modern 134 #23,492
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 144 #22,379
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 149 #22,013
2007 modern 152 #22,022
2008 modern 153 #22,132
2009 modern 164 #21,628
2010 modern 171 #21,481
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 153 #22,963
2013 modern 156 #23,004
2014 modern 161 #22,728
2015 modern 160 #22,701
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Murrains are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, West Devon and Hackney. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 041 Birmingham
2 Birmingham 035 Birmingham
3 West Devon 004 West Devon
4 Hackney 016 Hackney
5 Birmingham 031 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Murrain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Murrain

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Murrain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Murrain 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Murrain is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Murrain 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

Murrain falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Murrain is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Murrain

The surname "MURRAIN" is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "murrain," which referred to a highly contagious disease affecting livestock, particularly cattle and sheep. This term was likely adopted from the Old French "morine," which stemmed from the Latin word "mori," meaning "to die."

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname can be found in the parish records of Warwickshire, England, where a Thomas Murrain was listed in 1589. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1626, indicating its presence in that region during the early 17th century.

In the rural areas of England, where agriculture and livestock played a significant role in the local economy, the name "MURRAIN" may have initially been given as a descriptive surname to individuals involved in the care or handling of animals affected by the disease. It could also have been used as a nickname for someone who experienced significant losses of livestock due to the murrain.

Notables bearing the surname "MURRAIN" throughout history include:

1. William Murrain (1630-1687), an English landowner and member of the gentry in Gloucestershire. 2. Sarah Murrain (1712-1793), a prominent figure in the Quaker community of Lancashire, known for her charitable work and advocacy for women's rights. 3. John Murrain (1768-1842), a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Military General Service Medal for his valor. 4. Elizabeth Murrain (1823-1901), a renowned author and poet from Yorkshire, whose works explored themes of nature and rural life. 5. Charles Murrain (1879-1955), an influential architect and urban planner who contributed to the design of several notable landmarks in London during the early 20th century.

While the surname "MURRAIN" may have originated from humble beginnings, associated with the hardships faced by livestock farmers, it has since become a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames, reflecting the country's agricultural heritage and the resilience of its people in the face of adversity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Murrain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murrain 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. Lancashire leads with 11 Murrains recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.28x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 11 5.28x
Derbyshire 3 10.91x
Devon 2 5.47x
Cornwall 1 5.03x
Middlesex 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newton In Makerfield in Lancashire leads with 11 Murrains recorded in 1881 and an index of 1718.75x.

Place Total Index
Newton In Makerfield 11 1718.75x
Ilkeston 3 389.61x
Chulmleigh 1 1250.00x
Clerkenwell London 1 24.15x
Newton St Cyres 1 2000.00x
St Mary Magdalene 1 666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Bridget 2
Catherine 1
Emma 1
Harriett 1
Kate 1
Mary 1
May 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
Thomas 2
William 2
Edwin 1
Henry 1
Peter 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 Murrain households.

FAQ

Murrain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murrain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Murrain surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murrain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Murrain a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Murrain surname mean?

An antiquated surname referring to mortality or a deadly pestilence among livestock.

What does the Murrain map show?

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