NameCensus.

UK surname

Murrison

A variant of the surname Morrison, derived from the given name Maurice.

In the 1881 census there were 153 people recorded with the Murrison surname, ranking it #15,320 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 119, ranked #27,704, down from #15,320 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Old Deer, Aberdour and Strichen. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Durno-Chapel of Garioch, New Pitsligo and Rochford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murrison is 198 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.2%.

1881 census count

153

Ranked #15,320

Modern count

119

2016, ranked #27,704

Peak year

1891

198 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murrison had 153 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,320 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016, ranked #27,704.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 198 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Murrison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murrison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Murrison 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 128 #14,474
1861 historical 129 #17,271
1881 historical 153 #15,320
1891 historical 198 #15,033
1901 historical 176 #16,401
1911 historical 31 #29,952
1997 modern 125 #23,567
1998 modern 128 #23,828
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 114 #25,717
2001 modern 115 #25,222
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 106 #27,045
2005 modern 103 #27,531
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 105 #28,180
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 109 #28,689
2013 modern 113 #28,502
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 119 #27,704

Geography

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Where Murrisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Old Deer, Aberdour, Strichen, Fraserburgh and Cruden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Durno-Chapel of Garioch, New Pitsligo, Rochford, Caithness South and Greenwich. 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 Old Deer Aberdeen
2 Aberdour Aberdeen
3 Strichen Aberdeen
4 Fraserburgh Aberdeen
5 Cruden Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Durno-Chapel of Garioch Aberdeenshire
2 New Pitsligo Aberdeenshire
3 Rochford 006 Rochford
4 Caithness South Highland
5 Greenwich 003 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Murrison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Murrison

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Murrison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Murrison household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Murrison is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Murrison is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Murrison falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Murrison

The surname Murrison has its origins in Scotland, with records dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "muir" and "son," meaning "son of the moor." It is believed to have originated in the Scottish Lowlands, where the rugged moorlands were a prominent feature of the landscape.

In the early 17th century, the Murrison name appeared in the records of the Parish of Strathmiglo in Fife, Scotland. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was Robert Murrison, who was born in 1612. Another early reference can be found in the Commissariot Record of St. Andrews, which mentions a John Murrison in 1659.

During the 18th century, the Murrison family continued to flourish in Scotland. Notable individuals from this period include James Murrison, a merchant from Leith, born in 1721, and William Murrison, a farmer from Ayrshire, born in 1762.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, many Murrisons migrated to urban areas in search of work. One such individual was Alexander Murrison, a weaver from Paisley, born in 1819. Another was Robert Murrison, a shipbuilder from Greenock, born in 1834.

The 20th century saw the Murrison name spread further afield, with members of the family settling in various parts of the world. One notable figure was Sir Walter Murrison, a British politician and lawyer, born in 1902. He served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted in 1961 for his contributions to public service.

Other notable individuals with the Murrison surname include:

1. Sir John Murrison (1858-1943), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist. 2. William Murrison (1876-1945), a Scottish architect and designer. 3. Margaret Murrison (1909-1998), a Canadian author and poet. 4. Robert Murrison (1920-2005), a British military officer and historian. 5. Michael Murrison (born 1948), an Australian musician and composer.

While the Murrison name may not be among the most common surnames, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and reflects the resilience and adaptability of the Scottish people.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Murrison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murrison 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 128 Murrisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 93.22x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 128 93.22x
Fife 7 7.98x
Kincardineshire 4 22.16x
Midlothian 3 1.51x
Banffshire 2 6.50x
Caithness 2 9.85x
Orkney 2 12.26x
Angus 1 0.73x
Ayrshire 1 0.90x
Caernarfonshire 1 1.67x
Lanarkshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Peterhead in Aberdeenshire leads with 19 Murrisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 261.71x.

Place Total Index
Peterhead 19 261.71x
Aberdour 12 1111.11x
Cruden 11 621.47x
Longside 11 670.73x
Aberdeen Old Machar 9 31.39x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 9 35.03x
Fintray 8 1538.46x
King Edward 8 506.33x
Monymusk 8 1355.93x
Strathdon 8 1194.03x
Fyvie 7 312.50x
Dunfermline 6 44.44x
Pitsligo 6 458.02x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 3.75x
Banchory Devenick 2 118.34x
Fordoun 2 198.02x
Fraserburgh 2 51.68x
Huntly 2 89.69x
New Deer 2 80.32x
Old Deer 2 76.92x
Rousay Egilshay 2 350.88x
Brechin 1 18.52x
Echt 1 151.52x
Gamrie 1 29.15x
Glasgow 1 1.17x
Kemnay 1 120.48x
Kincardine O Neil 1 102.04x
Latheron 1 29.41x
Llanbeblig 1 16.45x
St Fergus 1 128.21x
Stewarton 1 45.45x
Tyrie 1 58.14x
Wemyss 1 26.95x
Wick 1 15.24x

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 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 Murrison households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 1

FAQ

Murrison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murrison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 153 people were recorded with the Murrison surname. That placed it at #15,320 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murrison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016. That gives Murrison a modern rank of #27,704.

What does the Murrison surname mean?

A variant of the surname Morrison, derived from the given name Maurice.

What does the Murrison map show?

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