This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Maurice' commonly spelt Morris; v. Maurice.

Mauricius fil. Mauricii, Northamptonshire, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

Thomas Moris, Bedfordshire, ibid.

Ricardus Morrisson, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

William Moreson, 1379: ibid.

Elena Morys, 1379: ibid.

Johannes Morys, 1379: ibid.

Jevan ap Moris Kemys: Visit. Gloucestershire 1623.

(a) Nick. 'the Moreys,' i.e. the Moorish, the Moor; compare Norris.

Robert le Moreys, Somerset, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

1575. Married — Robert Wolfe and Johane Morrys: St Jas, Clerkenwell.

1602. — Israeli Garrett and Alice Morrice: ibid.

Morice. Morrice. Forms of Maurice (from Latin Mauricius, 'moorish,' the name of a saint martyred in 286 A.D.). The name was introduced into Britain by the Normans among whom it was popular. Arthur Mauricius witnessed a charter by the earl of Levenax, 1364 (HP., IV, p. 16). Gilbert Morice or Moris held a tenement in Irvine, 1540 (Irvine, I, p. 167,168), and in 1565 Robert Morese was a tenant on lands of the bishop of Moray (REM., p. 433). James Morriss was a charter witness in Rrechin, 1512, and John Moreiss is recorded there in 1548 (REB., II, 169,200). Malcum Moreis was admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1559 (NSCM., I, p. 66), and John Moreis is recorded in Wester Innergowry, 1585 (Scon, p. 229). John Moreis was retoured heir of John Dotchoun, portioner of Corshill, Kilwinning, 1633 (Retours, Ayr, 291), and David Moreis appears as coal grieve in Bogie in 1680 (RPC., 3. ser. VI p. 587). Alexander Morrice was appointed schoolmaster of Fettercairn in 1674, and David Mores died there in 1696 (Jervise, I, p. 251). James Morrice from Monquhitter, Aberdeenshire, was killed in the first Great War (Turriff). Moreis 1656, Moress 1552. Morise 1511, Monies 1670, Morys 1497, Moryse 1508.

= Maurice, q.v.

This common surname, which is, and has been, variously written Morriss, Morres, Moriee, Morriee, Maurice, Morys, Moris, Morrish, Morse; which gives rise to the patronymical forms Morrison, Morrisson, Morson; and which is found associated with various prefixes, such as Fitz, Clan, Mount, De, &c,, may be traced to various sources. "Of the English families of that name," observes Burke, "there are two classes, those of native, and those of foreign, extraction. The latter came over with the Conqueror. Of the former, the most ancient are derived from Wales. One section of the foreign class had a Moorish origin, as indeed the name expresses, and crossed over from Africa to Europe by way of Spain, whence were introduced into England, and other European countries, the Morrice dancers, who were accustomed to perform various feats of dancing. From the same source is derived the name of Montmorency corrupted from De Monte Moriseo, "of or from the Moorish Mountains," and thence abbreviated into Moris. (?) [The Le Moreys of H.R. somewhat favours a Moorish origin.]

AP MEURICE: (Welsh.) The son of Meurice or Morris.

(Welsh.) From Mawr and rys, a hero, a warrior, a brave man. Marth, the great, the warlike, same as Mavors.

From the French, Maurice, Morisse; personal name Morreis in Roll of Battell Abbey.

Morris. —This name has evidently had more than one centre of origin. Its principal home is in the counties bordering Wales (excluding Cheshire), namely, Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Monmouthshire, and afterwards in the Welsh counties themselves. Thence it has spread over most of the midland counties, though it may be doubted whether it has not had a partially independent origin in Bucks, Leicestershire and Rutland, and Notts. However, an important and evidently an independent home has been founded in Hampshire, where it is very numerous. According to Lower, Morris, when found in Wales and in the adjoining English counties, is derived from Mars, the God of War (Welsh form Mawr - rwyce). In England it is undoubtedly often a corruption of Maurice, a name partly of Norman introduction. Probably Moss, which, judging from its distribution, is more often in England a corruption of Morris than a Jewish contraction of Moses, should be included here. It is principally found in Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and Essex. Morrison is a name almost peculiar to Scotland, being only scantily represented in England in Northumberland.

The surname Morris is a variation of the name Maurice, which was, and still is, a popular first name. The first name Maurice came to England with the Norman Conquest and derives from the Old French name Meurisse. This name in turn came from the Latin first name Mauritius (like the island) which originates from the word Maurus, meaning a Moor (as in Othello the Moor, an inhabitant of North Africa, usually of Berber or Arab origin-see also Moore). Thus this name was originally given to a Moor. However, it was also often used as a nickname for anyone of swarthy or dark complexion.

The name Maurice spread all over Europe. There was even a St Maurice who was martyred in Switzerland in AD 286. (The fashionable ski resort of St Moritz is named after him.) When the name came to England, it gave itself to that most English of rural pastimes, the Morris Dance. Ironically, this originally meant ‘Moorish Dance’.

The name Morris is found all over the land, but is most common in Wales, the Welsh border country and the southern counties of England. The variation Morrish is found in Somerset and Devon. This is a corruption of the more French Maurice, just as the French word liquorice is now often corrupted to liquorish. Other related names are Morrison (most common in the northern counties of England, and in Scotland), Morrice, and Fitzmaurice (son of Maurice).

The earliest mention of the surname Morris in the records is of one Fulco Julius Mauricii (this being the Latin version of the name, with Julius meaning ‘son of’). He appears in the records of the Templars for Lincolnshire in 1185. The slightly more recognisable Ricardus Julius Morys appears in the 1297 Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire.

The English artist, poet and social reformer William Morris (1834—96) revolutionised Victorian taste with his designs for furniture, fabrics and wallpaper-which remain influential in interior design to this day.

A key figure in the development of the British motor industry was William Richard Morris (1877—1963), who later became Lord Nuffield. He started his business in a bicycle repair shop, and later set up his factory at Cowley, Oxford. The Morris Oxford car was his greatest popular success.

Liverpool-born American patriot Robert Morris was dubbed ‘the Financier of the American Revolution’ for his private rôle in procuring supplies and borrowing money to keep Washington’s army going through the most crucial years of the revolution. Later he loyally served the fledgling nation by securing loans to help it through early financial crises. But by 1798 disastrous land speculations had eaten up his personal fortune, and he was arrested and clapped into a debtor’s prison, where he stayed for 3½ years. After his release he died in obscurity, a broken man.

The sole name-related town in the United Kingdom is Morriston while Canada has a Morris and a Morrisburg. A total of 24 United States towns and cities are Morris-related. Name-related geographic features are rare. Australia has a Morris mountain and there is a Morris Island off the coast of South Carolina in the United States.

With about 153,000 namesakes Morris is the 28th most popular surname in England and Wales. There are over 22,000 Morrisons in Scotland, where this variation is 18th in popularity. Morris is notably popular in and around Cardiff where an estimated one in about 215 families bears the name. In descending numerical order Birmingham, Coventry and Liverpool are other Morris strongholds. Around the world Morris’s and Morrisons are most common in Wellington (one in 435 families), Auckland (one in 442) and Vancouver (one in 485). The United States has more Morris’s and Morrisons than the entire population of Bristol-in combination an estimated total of just under 478,000 makes this their 27th most popular surname.