The Morley surname
In the 2010 U.S. Census, 11,028 people carried this name — #3,275 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 26,700 people counted. That is up 2% from 10,815 in 2000.
What the name means
The meaning of the Morley surname
A habitational surname from Old English.
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Morley» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.
In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890
Ireland registered 23 births for the Morley name in 1890.
Most were registered in Connacht. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 1,000 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “20 in Mayo.”
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born, 1890
Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.
In Argentina’s national register
At least 105 people named Morley live in Argentina.
RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Córdoba.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.
In Switzerland’s population statistics
29 people named Morley live in Switzerland.
They live in 7 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Bern.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.
In France’s civil register
France’s register of deaths holds 24 people named Morley.
Most of them — 18 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 5 départements, most often Vienne.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born
Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.
In the Nordic population registers
42 people named Morley is counted in Sweden.
Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.
Counted, by country
Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).
Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s
Morley was found among the farmers of 6 counties.
It was most frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland: 26 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 385. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.
Where it concentrates, on the mapPer 10,000 farmers, by county
H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.
In Scotland’s registers today
Morley was recorded 11 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.
That made it the 1788th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.
National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
In print
Morley in American newspapers,
1898–1908.
Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 8,302 pages in all carry the name.
In print
Morley in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.
89,544 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Morley. The most, 18,664, date from the 1890s.
Articles, by state
Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Morley.
Who carried it
People named Morley,
with a public archive behind them.
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Anne Morley d. 1671 -
Mary Morley d. 1666 -
Hermione Justice Morley d. 1969 -
John Morley d. 1587 · politician
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Robert Morley d. 1632 · politician
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John Morley d. 1565 · politician
Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.
In the public record
People named Morley,
in the records of 8 countries.
Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.
United States1,788 records
- Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 424
- New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 381
- Other U.S. records 983
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Example: U.S. registration card, 1942 Military record James S. MorleyBorn 1907 in Arkansas. Enlisted 1942 at Indianapolis, Indiana; driver from Lake County, Indiana. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1948, buried at Fort Smith National Cemetery, Arkansas.
U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) -
Example: passenger manifest, 1903 Passenger record Johanna MorleyArrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Teutonic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 20; servant. From Wexford, Ireland; bound for New York.
U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) -
Example: U.S. war memorial War record John Joseph MorleyBorn 1947; from Bayonne, New Jersey. U.S. Army, infantry unit commander; killed in action 1968 in Kien Hoa, South Vietnam.
U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
Showing 3 of 1,788 records for Morley in the United States.
Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).
Australia1,861 records
- Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 801
- Tasmanian Names Index 417
- Other Australian records 643
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Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829 Transportation record Jane MorleyTransported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the William Bryan, sailing from London in 1833. Native of Middleton, Yorkshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1836.
Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) -
Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829 Transportation record William MorleyTransported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Mayda, sailing from Woolwich in 1845. Native of St Giles, Middlesex. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1851. Married 1851 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 24.
Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: passenger manifest, 1903 Passenger record Wilfred MorleyArrived in Victoria in 1887 aboard the Chimborazo, aged 3; English.
Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 3 of 1,861 records for Morley in Australia.
Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).
Canada312 records
- Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 207
- Canadian Virtual War Memorial 25
- Other Canadian records 80
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Example: Canadian cemetery Burial record Annie Laura MorleyKilled in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 20; buried at St John's Cemetery, Halifax.
Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. -
Example: passenger manifest, 1903 Passenger record Robt MorleyCame to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Scan, bound for Thornhill, Ontario; English.
Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. -
Example: Canadian cemetery Burial record John E. MorleyBuried in 1933 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 52.
Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
Showing 3 of 312 records for Morley in Canada.
Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).
United Kingdom117 records
- War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 88
- St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 23
- Other British records 6
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Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Annie MorleyBuried in 1900 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 49.
Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. -
Example: probate petition, 1848 Probate record Thomas MorleyWill proved in 1936; of Morriston.
National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) -
Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919 War record E. MorleyKing's (Liverpool Regiment). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.
National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
Showing 3 of 117 records for Morley in the United Kingdom.
Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).
New Zealand18 records
- Christchurch City cemetery records 15
- Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 2
- Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 1
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Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Eliza Helen MorleyDied 1915, aged 43; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.
Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record John MorleyDied 1898; buried at Kaiapoi Anglican Cemetery, Canterbury.
Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Jane Ann MorleyBuried in 1931 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 57.
Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 3 of 18 records for Morley in New Zealand.
Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).
France7 records
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Example: French death register, 1930 Death record Rene Alfred Walter MorleyBorn 1909 in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine); died 1993 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines).
Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte) -
Example: French death register, 1930 Death record Alfreda Augusta MorleyBorn 1923 in Wissant; died 1992 in Boulogne-sur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais).
Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
Showing 2 of 7 records for Morley in France.
Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).
Netherlands4 records
- Dutch population registers 3
- Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1
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Example: marriage register, 1911 Marriage record Lilain Daisy Newton MorleyMarried in 1919 in 's-Gravenhage; "pensionbediende".
Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: U.S. census, 1910 Population register William MorleyIn a population register; born 1802 in Ripon.
Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 2 of 4 records for Morley in the Netherlands.
Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).
Ireland1 record
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Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Thomas H. MorleyDied 1996, aged 62; buried at Kilcummin, Co. Galway.
Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).
Nearby in the index
Surnames next to Morley.
- Morisset 533 · U.S. census
- Moritz 6,216 · U.S. census
- Morla 435 · U.S. census
- Morlan 2,697 · U.S. census
- Morland 901 · U.S. census
- Morlet 149 · U.S. census
- Moro 2,554 · U.S. census
- Moron 1,026 · U.S. census
- Moroni 559 · U.S. census
- Morosini 104 · U.S. census
- Moroz 1,434 · U.S. census
- Morra 1,175 · U.S. census
When the index is not enough
This page says where Morley is.
A volume says what happened to it.
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