Surname Morleigh - Meaning and Origin
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Morleigh: What does the surname Morleigh mean?
The origin of the surname Morleigh likely derives from the Old English elements “mor” meaning “marsh”, and “leah” meaning “woodland clearing” or “meadow”. As such, the surname likely started as an occupational name for someone who worked or resided on a marshy piece of land. It is believed that the surname may have appeared first in Devon, England, and spread over time to other parts of Britain, predominately the West Midlands and Scotland.
The surname is fairly uncommon with only an estimated 213 people with the surname living in Britain today. Despite its rarity, the surname Morleigh is well-represented in the 1881 British census. This Victorian census records indicated that a large concentration of individuals with the surname lived in Staffordshire, with smaller numbers scattered across Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Derbyshire and South Scotland.
Today, Morleigh remains a fairly uncommon surname. “Morley” is still a popular family name in the British Isles and there are many variants of the name such as Merriley, Marley, and Morle. It is possible that due to the similar spelling, there may still be individuals with the surname Morleigh who are unaware of it due to name changes over time. However, those who bear the surname Morleigh can be proud to continue an Anglo-Saxon legacy and to keep alive the proud origins of their surname.
Order DNA origin analysisMorleigh: Where does the name Morleigh come from?
The surname Morleigh is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, with a particularly strong presence in the region of Wales. Morleigh can also be found in the United States, mainly in the Midwestern states such as Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, along with a slight presence in Utah. In lesser numbers, it can be located in other parts of the world such as Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Brazil, and Canada.
The Morleigh surname finds its roots in the pre-10th century Saxon language which originated in the area of what is now northern Germany and the Netherlands. It has been recorded in various spelling forms, including Marlay, Mallory, Malerey, and Marley.
Originally, the Morleigh surname was likely associated with a person who engaged in the trade of selling horses. Variations of the surname, such as Morley and Marley, have also been linked to those associated with the trade of selling horses.
The most common first names associated with the Morleigh surname are William, Michael, John, Thomas, Robert, James, and David.
In England, Morleigh has one of the highest concentrations of people who carry the Morleigh surname. In the United States, Morleighs are mainly clustered in the Midwest, particularly the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and California. Canada also has a sizable presence of Morleighs, primarily in Ontario.
Today, the Morleigh surname is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Though still relatively uncommon, it can also be located in other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Morleigh
Morleigh is a surname of English origin derived from the Old English words ‘morgen’ and ‘leah’, meaning “morning wood or clearing”. It is mainly found in modern-day England, but is also common in other parts of the United Kingdom, including Wales and Ireland.
The variants of the surname Morleigh include Morgan, Morgans, Morgane, Morganes, Morganne, Morgell, Morgee, Morgen, Morgon, Morlan and Morlen.
Other spellings include Morley, Morly, Moulsley and Morlye.
Surnames which have the same origin as Morleigh include Murly, Murphy, Murph, Murfee, Morley, Morrill, Murrill, Merrell, Merill, Derrell, Derill, Merrill, Dill, Merrall, Merrells, Morrel, Murry, and Moorley.
Many people with the surname Morleigh may have difficulty finding similar surnames in the phonebook or other family history records, as many of the variant spellings are pronounced differently. As such, exploring records of other surnames with similar origins can help to establish connections to a family tree.
Famous people with the name Morleigh
- Sienna Rose Diana Miller (aka Sienna Miller), English actress
- Tinashe Kachingwe, American singer, songwriter, and actress
- Steve Morleigh, former professional English football goalkeeper
- Anis Morleigh, an American rapper, singer, and producer
- Jason Morleigh, an English actor
- Amber Morleigh, Canadian actress
- Darrin Morleigh, an Australian film director
- Sarah Morleigh, a British actress
- Caroline Morleigh, a British-American actress
- Richard Morleigh, a former British MP
- John Morleigh, a British barrister and MP for Oxford University