2000
#12,004
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,388
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.89
Rare Last name
Morelock
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "young horse lake."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,524 Americans carry the last name Morelock. That puts it at #13,278 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.74 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 135,798 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Morelock surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.5K
1 in 135,798
Census rank
#13,278
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,201 bearers of the surname Morelock in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.74 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13278th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Morelock, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.2%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Morelock
The surname MORELOCK is believed to have originated in England, possibly during the late medieval period or the early modern era. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that may have been spelled similarly, such as "Morelock" or "Mooreloch." However, the precise origins of the name remain uncertain, and it could potentially have roots in different regions of the country.
The name MORELOCK may have been derived from Old English or Middle English words related to geographical features or topographical descriptions. One possible interpretation is that it combines the elements "mor" or "more," meaning a moor or moorland, with "lock," referring to a lock or enclosure, potentially suggesting a connection to a specific location near a moorland area with an enclosure or boundary.
While there are no definitive historical references to the name MORELOCK in major ancient manuscripts or records like the Domesday Book, some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the 16th and 17th centuries in various parts of England.
One notable figure bearing the MORELOCK surname was William MORELOCK (c. 1560-1630), a prominent merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, who was involved in trade with continental Europe and played a role in local affairs during the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras.
Another individual of note was Elizabeth MORELOCK (1672-1745), an English botanist and naturalist from Wiltshire, who made significant contributions to the study of local flora and was recognized for her extensive collection of plant specimens.
In the 18th century, John MORELOCK (1712-1798) was a respected educator and headmaster of a prestigious grammar school in Yorkshire, known for his innovative teaching methods and commitment to the education of underprivileged students.
During the Victorian era, Robert MORELOCK (1825-1892) was a prominent industrialist and entrepreneur from Lancashire, who founded a successful textile manufacturing company and was actively involved in philanthropic efforts in his local community.
Lastly, Mary MORELOCK (1880-1968), born in Oxfordshire, was a pioneering aviator and one of the first women in Britain to obtain a pilot's license. She played a significant role in promoting women's involvement in aviation and served in the Air Transport Auxiliary during World War II.
These are just a few examples of individuals with the MORELOCK surname who have left their mark on various fields throughout history, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments associated with this name over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Morelock
Among Census respondents with the surname Morelock, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.2%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Morelock bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Morelock surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.9% · 2,066
- Two or more races3.2% · 71
- Hispanic or Latino1.7% · 37
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 12
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 8
- Black or African American0.3% · 7
Timeline
Historical Census data for Morelock
Morelock appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#12,384
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,512
+124 bearers (+5.2%)
Per 100,000 0.85
Rank movement Down 380 places
2020
#13,278
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,201
-311 bearers (-12.4%)
Per 100,000 0.74
Rank movement Down 894 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #12,004 | 2,388 | 0.89 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #12,384 | 2,512 | 0.85 | +124 bearers (+5.2%) | Down 380 places |
| 2020 | #13,278 | 2,201 | 0.74 | -311 bearers (-12.4%) | Down 894 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Morelock surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,384 | #13,278 | -7.2% |
| Count | 2,512 | 2,201 | -12.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.85 | 0.74 | -13.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Morelock bearers went from 2,512 to 2,201 (-12.4% change). The surname moved down 894 positions in the national ranking, going from #12,384 to #13,278.
FAQ
Morelock surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Morelock?
Name Census estimates that about 2,524 living Americans carry the surname Morelock. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 135,798 residents.
How common is Morelock?
Morelock ranks #13,278 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.74 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,201 people with the surname Morelock. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,524), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.74 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.74 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Morelock.
Has Morelock become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Morelock went from 2,512 recorded bearers to 2,201. That is a decrease of 311 (-12.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #12,384 to #13,278.
What does the Census say about the background of Morelock?
Among Census respondents with the surname Morelock, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.2%) and Hispanic (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Morelock in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.9% (2,066 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Morelock appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.9%), Two or More Races (3.2%), Hispanic (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Morelock (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Morelock mean?
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "young horse lake." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Morelock (0.74 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Morelock?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.