Mourning
An English surname potentially derived from the Old French "morne" meaning gloomy or sad.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 925 Americans carry the last name Mourning. That puts it at #29,793 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.27 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 370,545 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mourning surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
925
1 in 370,545
Census rank
#29,793
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
789
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 789 bearers of the surname Mourning in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.27 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 29793rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mourning, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.9%. The next largest groups are Black (29.8%) and Two or More Races (3.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mourning
The surname MOURNING is of English origin, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "murnan," meaning "to mourn" or "to grieve." The name likely referred to an occupation or personality trait related to mourning or grief.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the MOURNING surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a "Willelmus le Mournand" in Oxfordshire. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.
During the medieval period, the MOURNING name appeared in various records and manuscripts. For instance, a "John Mourning" is mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, dating back to 1348.
In the 16th century, the MOURNING surname was found in areas such as Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1523 for Gloucestershire list a "Thomas Mornying," while the Wiltshire Musters of 1539 mention a "John Mournyng."
Notable individuals with the MOURNING surname include:
1. William Mourning (c. 1520 - 1592), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Magdalen College, Oxford.
2. John Mourning (1644 - 1718), an English merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, known for his charitable endeavors in the city.
3. Elizabeth Mourning (1678 - 1755), a British landowner and philanthropist who bequeathed funds for the establishment of a school in Staffordshire.
4. Thomas Mourning (1735 - 1812), an English inventor and clockmaker from Shropshire, known for his innovative timepiece designs.
5. Richard Mourning (1786 - 1861), a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a successful businessman in London.
The MOURNING surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Mourning Quarter in Gloucestershire and Mourning Farm in Wiltshire, reflecting the historical presence of families bearing this name in those regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mourning
Among Census respondents with the surname Mourning, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.9%. The next largest groups are Black (29.8%) and Two or More Races (3.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Mourning bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Mourning surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White62.9%
- Black or African American29.8%
- Two or more races3.8%
- Hispanic or Latino3.2%
- Unknown or suppressed0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mourning surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,235 | #29,793 | 4.6% |
| Count | 702 | 789 | 12.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.26 | 0.27 | 3.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mourning bearers went from 702 to 789 (+12.4% change). The surname moved up 1,442 positions in the national ranking, going from #31,235 to #29,793.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mourning
FAQ
Mourning surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mourning?
The surname Mourning holds position #29,793 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 925 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.27 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mourning surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mourning, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.9%. The next largest groups are Black (29.8%) and Two or More Races (3.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.