Morley Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Morley Name Meaning: Taken form the Anglo-Saxon word 'morleah', meaning 'marsh+woodland clearing'.

A locative name given to someone who lived or worked in a march or marshy woodland clearing.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Morley Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Morley family

Profession Census Frequency
School 1,597
Coal Miner Hewer 128
Farm Labourer 117
General Labourer 102
Private Means 93
Labourer 88
Farmer 88
Domestic Servant 78
Bricklayer 73
General Servant (domestic) 70
None 64
Dressmaker 62
Shop Assistant 59
Scholar 52
Clerk 49
At School 47
House Painter 45
At Home 43
Cotton Weaver 41
Dress Maker 40
House Keeper 37
Errand Boy 36
Laundress 36
Housekeeper 33
Assisting In Business 32

Morley Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Morley 100% 87,946
2 Marley 83% 13,995
3 Murley 83% 4,213
4 Moreley 86% 2,193
5 Moorley 86% 1,704
6 Merley 83% 1,172
7 Morly 83% 978
8 Morlay 83% 490
9 Morely 67% 440
10 Moorly 67% 226
11 Marly 67% 214
12 Murly 67% 192
13 Emerly 50% 189
14 Mirley 83% 149

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The surname Morley is the most popular version of all its varients

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