Morley Surname

10,667th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 52,701 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
England
Highest density in:
Turks and Caicos Islands

Morley Surname Definition:

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Morley.' Parishes in Derbyshire and Norfolk (a); also an ecclesiastical district in the parish of Batley, West Riding of Yorks, besides many small localities. The pasture on the moor' would naturally be styled by this name.

Read More About This Surname

Morley Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England21,8111:2,555330
United States14,8651:24,3833,080
Australia6,3771:4,233614
Canada3,1611:11,6561,740
Ireland1,0631:4,430752
New Zealand8601:5,265851
Bahamas7481:524109
South Africa6481:83,60810,314
Israel6031:14,1922,154
Scotland5071:10,5601,452
Wales4841:6,394709
Thailand1581:447,07878,527
Argentina1451:294,78223,564
Spain1091:428,91822,835
Philippines1081:937,39183,277
Turks and Caicos Islands681:50591
France651:1,021,888113,182
Northern Ireland611:30,2463,146
Germany541:1,490,84290,195
Brazil531:4,039,138109,837
India511:15,040,498247,985
Isle of Man451:1,907364
Singapore431:128,0865,748
Jersey411:2,420410
Liberia411:107,5258,436
Dominican Republic391:267,5119,432
Zimbabwe331:467,82539,606
Switzerland321:256,65421,165
Nicaragua291:207,6242,574
Qatar281:84,2149,043
Sweden261:378,72126,697
Guernsey221:2,929767
China201:68,366,0783,721
Jamaica201:143,4975,007
Ivory Coast171:1,357,13129,476
Netherlands171:993,36365,241
Nigeria151:11,809,517219,567
Cyprus141:63,2056,078
Bermuda121:5,440820
Norway121:428,52437,411
Malaysia101:2,949,422111,742
Denmark91:627,19136,734
Hong Kong91:815,0543,802
Saudi Arabia91:3,428,42432,607
Austria81:1,064,42975,134
Estonia81:165,22626,217
Papua New Guinea81:1,019,215101,897
Taiwan81:2,930,59317,989
Venezuela81:3,775,51036,567
British Virgin Islands71:4,513453
Italy71:8,736,670118,213
Mexico71:17,732,31550,495
Belgium61:1,916,107103,447
Indonesia61:22,041,532555,748
Russia61:24,020,509493,300
Kenya51:9,235,98055,978
Botswana41:546,73222,624
Ghana41:6,755,17315,406
Chile31:5,872,15852,204
Czechia31:3,544,490144,714
Ecuador31:5,301,94930,184
Japan31:42,614,76459,022
Monaco31:12,3552,088
Tanzania31:17,647,204107,932
Vietnam31:30,882,0184,101
Barbados21:143,7241,981
Colombia21:23,887,03632,612
Costa Rica21:2,390,03410,205
Greece21:5,539,895129,142
Macau21:300,8151,009
Poland21:19,004,374199,659
Sri Lanka21:10,404,28018,448
Trinidad and Tobago21:681,98817,017
United Arab Emirates21:4,581,13693,443
Algeria11:38,631,551130,422
Armenia11:2,930,18022,770
Belize11:355,4743,977
Brunei11:418,7313,893
Bulgaria11:6,978,90586,260
Egypt11:91,935,754132,737
Fiji11:894,3914,568
Finland11:5,496,70284,025
French Polynesia11:280,8057,211
Gibraltar11:33,9541,660
Guam11:160,1214,893
Guatemala11:16,082,66812,169
Haiti11:10,683,90724,607
Iran11:76,782,524277,718
Kyrgyzstan11:5,972,65499,197
Lebanon11:5,637,08332,436
Madagascar11:23,649,8379,420
Malta11:430,2723,380
Micronesia11:106,2431,380
Mozambique11:27,261,5697,432
Myanmar11:51,937,9852,166
Portugal11:10,418,24125,048
Saint Kitts and Nevis11:55,1991,294
Slovakia11:5,336,450140,422
South Korea11:51,240,2568,015
Turkey11:77,821,422191,047
Ukraine11:45,522,696503,646
Zambia11:15,849,92253,989
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland1,0401:4,259740
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England11,7591:2,073300
Wales1821:8,618531
Scotland681:55,0473,627
Jersey241:2,162357
Guernsey11:32,6562,283
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States2,4201:20,7522,628

Morley (4,435) may also be a first name.

Morley Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Morley.' Parishes in Derbyshire and Norfolk (a); also an ecclesiastical district in the parish of Batley, West Riding of Yorks, besides many small localities. The pasture on the moor' would naturally be styled by this name.

Johannes de Morelay, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Adam de Morlay, 1319: ibid.

Margeria de Morlay, 1379: ibid.

1769. Married — Richarde Morley and Avis Tucke: St. Mary Aldermary.

A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

This name was also written Morrelly, Morally, but now the English name Morley is almost invariably used as a synonym of it in Mayo. Morally is essentially a Mayo name of which the Gaelic-Irish form is Ó Murghaile. It must not be confused with the Munster Ó Muirthile which, though formerly anglicized Morrally, Murhilla and Murley, is now usually Hurley. This name has no Connacht associations and ninety per cent of the people-so called are of Co. Cork or some adjacent area to the east and north of the county.

Supplement to Irish Families (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

(English) belonging to Morley = the Moor- Lea [Old English mór-léah (Middle English ley]

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

Ó Murghaile A Mayo name for which the English surname Morley is now almost always used. It must be clearly distinguished from the Munster Murley (see Hurley). SIF 116

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

Ó Murghaile A Mayo name for which the English surname Morley is now almost always used. It must be clearly distinguished from the Munster Murley (see Hurley). SIF 116

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

(English) One who came from Morley (wood by a marsh), the name of several places in England.

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

Parishes and places in cos. Derby, York, Norfolk, &c.

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

Local. From Morlaix, in Brittany, France, and derived from the Welsh or British word mor, the sea, and ley, a valley. It is situated near the sea, on a river of the same name.

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857) by William Arthur

A location name in Derbyshire, Yorkshire.

British Family Names: Their Origin and Meaning (1903) by Henry Barber

A Norman name: Marley; a local name

British Family Names (1894) by Henry Barber

Morley: The name does not occur till the reign of Henry I.; probably from Morlaix in Brittany, and the first who came over was a retainer of Alan Fergeant. The name is given again by Leland as Merley.

Family Names And Their Story (1913) by Sabine Baring-Gould

The Morleys of Derbyshire, who take their name from a parish in the county, are established in the Derby district.

Homes of Family Names in Great Britain (1890) by Henry Brougham Guppy

Morley Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Morley Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname Morley (Arabic: مورلى, Marathi: मोरली, Russian: Морлей) is carried by more people in England than any other country/territory. It can be found in the variant forms:. For other potential spellings of this name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Morley? popularity and diffusion

The last name is the 10,667th most widespread surname at a global level. It is borne by approximately 1 in 138,281 people. The surname occurs mostly in Europe, where 46 percent of Morley live; 46 percent live in Northern Europe and 46 percent live in British Isles. Morley is also the 103,477th most frequently held given name globally. It is borne by 4,435 people.

Morley is most frequent in England, where it is carried by 21,811 people, or 1 in 2,555. In England it is primarily found in: Greater London, where 10 percent live, Nottinghamshire, where 6 percent live and West Yorkshire, where 6 percent live. Besides England it is found in 101 countries. It is also found in The United States, where 28 percent live and Australia, where 12 percent live.

Morley Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The incidence of Morley has changed through the years. In England the number of people who held the Morley surname grew 185 percent between 1881 and 2014; in The United States it grew 614 percent between 1880 and 2014; in Ireland it grew 102 percent between 1901 and 2014; in Scotland it grew 746 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Wales it grew 266 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Morley Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those holding the last name is chiefly Catholic (97%) in Ireland.

In The United States those bearing the Morley last name are 11% more likely to be registered with the Republican Party than the national average, with 57.77% registered with the party.

The amount Morley earn in different countries varies notably. In Norway they earn 5.4% more than the national average, earning 364,784 kr per year; in South Africa they earn 21.84% more than the national average, earning R 289,536 per year; in United States they earn 8.56% more than the national average, earning $46,843 USD per year and in Canada they earn 3.01% more than the national average, earning $51,178 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Moorley92478/
Mourley926/
Morlley921/
Morliey921/
Moerley921/
Morrley920/
Morle912,314/
Morly9150/
Mourleya864/
Morleyii861/
Marley8321,551/
Morlet835,331/
Morles835,075/
Murley833,710/
Morlue83525/
Merley83514/
Morloy83432/
Mohrle83129/
Morlay83107/
Morlez8354/
Morlee8344/
Morlie8329/
Morler8314/
Morlae8311/
Moerle8310/
Moirle838/
Mourle838/
Morlle837/
Moorly835/
Morleu833/
Mourly833/
Morlei832/
Moorle832/
Márley832/
Morlya831/
Morluy831/
Moerly831/
Morlly830/
Morhle830/
Morrelley801/
Mohurle7719,854/
Morelle775,535/
Morille771,619/
Moehrle77459/
Morlett77407/
Moerlie77180/
Morleus77154/
Morilly77135/
Morelly77134/
Mehrley7751/
Morlaye7744/
Mourlet7740/
Morrlle7735/
Morlets7726/
Moorlet7724/
Merhley7723/
Marzley7714/
Marlley7714/
Mahrley7713/
Morlest7710/
Morlowe777/
Morleth777/
Murrley776/
Morllay775/
Morleas774/
Marleys774/
Moorlee774/
Mhurley773/
Morlles773/
Mourlay773/
Mourles773/
Morrles772/
Morless772/
Morleaz771/
Marleye771/
Merrley771/
Merleya771/
Morhler771/
Morhles771/
Morlawe771/
Morliya771/
Mourlle771/
Morlueh771/
Mourlie771/
Morllet771/
Morrlly771/
Moorlie771/
Mourhly771/
Marleya771/
Morller770/
Marrley770/
Morrler770/
Marleey770/
Marhley770/
Murhley770/
Mharley770/
Meurley770/
Moorlea770/
Murlley770/
Morrloe770/
Merle7322,860/
Morla7318,726/
Marle732,117/
Marly731,691/
Murle73329/
Mürle73134/
Morli73133/
Murly7363/
Morlé7315/
Morlà737/
Märle735/
Morlá734/
Morlè734/
Mörle733/
Mourelle711,538/
Morellet71742/
Marilley71282/
Mourlaye71175/
Morzelle7192/
Mourille7177/
Morrilly7142/
Morrelle7140/
Morelles7136/
Morielle7119/
Morrelly7116/
Morilles7111/
Morellie713/
Moriolle712/
Morrille712/
Murlieye712/
Mourelly712/
Mahurley711/
Moreelle711/
Morellez711/
Morielly711/
Moriller711/
Morillet711/
Morillyo711/
Marlieyh711/
Merilley711/
Meurlley711/
Marelley710/
Marler6710,296/
Möhrle672,242/
Marles672,217/
Marlet671,315/
Morlas67916/
Morlio67699/
Morlat67667/
Marlay67530/
Mehrle67413/
Marlie67406/
Morhli67382/
Mahrle67321/
Mörler67251/
Mährle67248/
Marlee67202/
Merlhe67168/
Marlue67154/
Marlya67134/
Merlie67130/
Mourla67116/
Morlla6775/
Morlia6775/
Merlay6766/
Marloy6764/
Moutrille6759/
Meurle6759/
Maerle6756/
Moerli6744/
Marlei6738/
Marloe6737/
Marleh6737/
Moorla6736/
Marlez6736/
Marlea6733/
Mürrle6726/
Marlhe6726/
Mojrla6721/
Morlai6721/
Moorli6716/
Murlee6715/
Morrelles6714/
Murles6714/
Murrle6714/
Murlie6710/
Morrla679/
Morillejo679/
Merlej678/
Morlis678/
Merlee678/
Marleu677/
Moitrelle677/
Marliy676/
Marlle676/
Maarle676/
Merlea676/
Murlay675/
Marløe675/
Morlás675/
Morlaa674/
Morlli674/
Marlly674/
Merlle674/
Morlaz674/
Morléh674/
Moerla673/
Marhle673/
Morlou673/
Marlej672/
Mourli672/
Merrle672/
Marlye672/
Marled672/
Marrle672/
Mourelles672/
Morlad672/
Morrli672/
Mosrli672/
Maurle671/
Marilleyi671/
Marleyová671/
Marluy671/
Merhle671/
Merlei671/
Morlah671/
Motrla671/
Murlhe671/
Murluy671/
Murlya671/
Murrly671/
Muhrle671/
Mohrli671/
Moirla671/
Murler671/
Murlet671/
Marlae671/
Maruelley671/
Márlei671/
Marlıe671/
Morlap671/
Morlau671/
Morloi671/
Merleh671/
Merloy671/
Máhrle671/
Morrilles671/
Mourielly671/
Marleeyah671/
Mehrly670/
Meerle670/
Merluy670/

Morley Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Morley in the Marathi language
मोरलीmorali50
मोलयmolaya50
Morley in the Russian language
Морлейmorlej-
Morley in the Arabic language
مورلىmwrly-
مورليmwrly-

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Morley Reference & Research

Morley FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Morley
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis