Find out how popular the last name Morey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Morey.

Morey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Morey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Morey in America

Morey is the 3298th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Morey surname appeared 10,894 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Morey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Morey to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Morey

The surname Morey is of French origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old French word "morier," meaning a mulberry tree or a mulberry grove. This name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked with mulberry trees, perhaps cultivating them for the production of silk or wine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Moriacus" and "Moriaus." This ancient record provides evidence of the name's existence in various regions of England following the Norman Conquest in 1066, suggesting that the name was carried over by Norman settlers from France.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "de Moriaco," "de Morea," and "de Moreia," reflecting the common practice of using the preposition "de" (meaning "from") to indicate a person's place of origin or residence.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert Morey, a prominent English knight who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. He served as a commander in the King's armies and participated in the Hundred Years' War against France.

Another historical figure was William Morey, born in 1520, who was a renowned English theologian and scholar. He served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and played a significant role in the English Reformation under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the name Morey gained prominence in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances was that of Isaac Morey, who was born in 1648 in Massachusetts and became a prominent settler and landowner in the colony.

John Morey, born in 1730, was a influential figure in the American Revolutionary War. He served as a colonel in the Continental Army and played a crucial role in several key battles, including the Battle of Saratoga.

Jacques Morey, born in 1785 in France, was a renowned French architect and urban planner. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable landmarks in Paris, including the Palais de la Bourse (Stock Exchange Building).

These examples illustrate the widespread presence of the surname Morey throughout history, spanning various countries and professions, from military leaders to scholars, architects, and settlers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Morey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Morey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Morey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Morey has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Morey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Morey, please contact us.

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