Morris is a surname of various origins, though mostly of English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh origins. In 2014, the surname ranked 39 out of 104,537 in England, and 55 out of 400,980 in the United States.
According to the 1881 UK Census, the vast majority of people with the surname Morris were located in Lancashire (mostly in present day Greater Manchester), England (8723; 2516 per million); with significant concentrations in London, Glamorgan (or Wales as a whole), and the West Midlands. Now more widespread across the UK, a total of 95,101 individuals with this surname were recorded across the country in 2016.
The German language has the equivalent Moritz, Morris can be used as an English translation.
Origins Moors Morris can be derived from the personal name Maurice or Moreis. Meurig is the Welsh equivalent with Morus and Morys Anglicisations of the Welsh form also found. The name is traced through Middle English, Old French and Latin Mauritius 'Moorish, dark, swarthy'; from Maurus 'a Moor'.. It was the name of the 3rd century Christian martyr Saint Maurice.
Marshes Ó Muiris and, less commonly, de Moiréis in Irish; the Morris surname in Ireland is predominantly of Norman origin. It comes from the Norman "de Mareys", "de Marreis" and Latin "de Marisco", i.e., "of the marsh". It is a common surname in many parts of the south of Ireland, especially in Kilkenny, Tipperary, Offaly, Laois, Cork and Limerick, where it is now anglicised as Morris. A family of the name settled, in 1485, at Galway and became one of the Tribes of Galway. It may also refer to "descendant of Muiris" (sea-choice), a variant of Ó Muireasa. This was the name of a branch of the Uí Fiachrach who were formerly chiefs of a district on the southern shore of Sligo Bay, in the barony of Tireragh. The name would later be adopted by the Morrises outside of Sligo.
People
A Aaron Morris (disambiguation) Abigail Morris (arts administrator) (born 1964), British arts administrator Abigail Morris (musician), (born 1999), British singer-songwriter Adele Morris (born 1963), policy director for Climate and Energy Economics at the Brookings Institution Adrian Morris (actor) (1907–1941), American stage and film actor Adrian Morris (painter) (1929–2004), English painter Aggrey Morris (born 1984), Tanzanian footballer Agnes Thomas Morris (1865–1949), American writer and clubwoman A. J. Morris (born 1986), American baseball pitcher A. J. A. Morris, British historian Akeel Morris (born 1992), American baseball pitcher Alan Morris (disambiguation) Albert Morris (disambiguation) Aldon Morris (born 1949), American sociologist Alec Morris, New Zealand rugby league footballer Alessandro Morris (born 1982), Caymanian cricketer Alexander Morris (disambiguation) Alfred Morris (disambiguation) Alice Vanderbilt Morris (1874–1950), member of the Vanderbilt family, co-founder of the International Auxiliary Language Association Allan Morris (disambiguation) Allen Morris (disambiguation) Alwyn Morris (born 1957), Canadian Olympic sprint kayaker Amos Morris (born 1987/1988), Australian country music bush balladeer Andrea Morris (born 1983), Canadian actress Andrew Morris (disambiguation) Anita Morris (1943–1994), American actress, singer and dancer Anne Morris (disambiguation) Anthony Morris (disambiguation) Aric Morris (born 1977), American football safety Arthur Morris (disambiguation) Ashley Morris (disambiguation) Aubrey Morris (1926–2015), British actor Audrey Morris (1928–2018), American jazz singer Augustus Morris (1820–1895), Australian politician Augustus Newbold Morris (1838–1906), American socialite
B Bam Morris (born 1972), American football running back Barbara Morris (1918–2009), English art scholar and artist Barboura Morris (1932–1975), American actress Barney Morris (1915–1962), baseball player in the Negro leagues Barry Morris (1935–2001), Australian politician Barry S. Morris, CEO of NuoDB Basil Morris (1888–1975), Australian general, military administrator of Papua Bede Morris (1927–1988), Australian immunologist Ben Morris (special effects artist), Best Visual Effects Academy Award winner for The Golden Compass (2007) Benjamin Morris (disambiguation) Benny Morris (born 1948), Israeli historian Bernard Morris (born 1985), American football quarterback Bernie Morris (1890–1963), Canadian ice hockey player Bert Morris (disambiguation) Bevan Morris (born 1949), American psychologist and philosopher, president of Maharishi University of Management Bonnie J. Morris (born 1961), American women's studies professor Brennan Morris (born 1990), American swimmer Brett Morris (born 1986), Australian rugby league footballer Brewster Morris (1909–1990), United States Ambassador to Chad Brian Morris (disambiguation) Bruce Morris, American politician Bryn Morris (born 1996), English footballer Buckner Stith Morris (1800–1879), Mayor of Chicago (1838–1839) Buckshot Morris, American car racer and race car owner Burton Morris (born 1964), American pop artist Butch Morris (1947–2013), American cornetist, composer and conductor Butler Morris, Papua New Guinean rugby league player
C Cadwalader Morris (1741–1795), American merchant and politician Cale Morris, (born 1996), American ice hockey goaltender Callum Morris (born 1990), English footballer Calvary Morris (1798–1871), American politician Carey Morris (1882–1968), Welsh painter, illustrator, author and businessman Carl Morris (disambiguation) Carol Morris (born 1936), American actress, Miss Universe 1956 Caroline Morris (born 1974), British voice actress Carolyn Morris (1925–1996), American baseball pitcher Carlton Morris (born 1995), English footballer Cassandra Lee Morris (born 1982), American voice actress Catherine Morris, British figure skater Cavour Morris (born 1932), Barbadian sports shooter Cedric Morris (1889–1982), British artist, art teacher and plantsman Cecil Morris (1933–2001), American football coach and player Chad Morris (born 1968), American football coach Charles Morris (disambiguation) Charlotte P. Morris, American academic administrator Chester Morris (1901–1970), American actor Chris Morris (disambiguation) Christiana Morris (c.1804–1886), Mi'kmaq quillworker Christine Wigfall Morris (1922–2014), American librarian Christie Morris (1882–1971), American cricketer Clara Morris (1849–1925), American actress Claud Morris (1920–2000), British newspaper owner Claude F. Morris (1869–1957), a justice of the Montana Supreme Court Clayton Morris (born 1976), American real estate investor and television host Clifford Morris (1942–2022), British politician Cody Morris (born 1996), American baseball player Colin Morris (disambiguation) Corbyn Morris (1710–1779), English commissioner of the customs and economic writer Cory Morris (born 1978), American serial killer and necrophile Craig Morris (born 1968), American orchestral trumpeter Cynthia Taft Morris (1928–2013), American economist
D Dai Morris (born 1941), Welsh rugby union footballer Dale Morris (born 1982), Australian rules footballer Daniel Morris (1812–1889), American politician Daniel Morris (botanist) (1844–1933), British administrator, horticulturist and botanist Daniel Morris, member of the band Band of Oz (2005–present) Danny Morris (1946–2023), American baseball pitcher Danny Morris (music producer), American 21st century songwriter and record producer Darick Kobie Morris (born 1995), Croatian footballer Darius Morris (born 1991), American basketball player Darren Morris (born 1974), Wales rugby union player Darrin Morris (1966–2000), American super middleweight boxer Darryl Morris (disambiguation) David Morris (disambiguation) Dennis Morris (disambiguation) Dennit Morris (1936–2014), American football linebacker Derek Morris (disambiguation) Des Morris (born 1948), Australian rugby league footballer, coach and administrator Desmond Morris (1928–2026), British ethologist, zoologist and author Desmond Morris (athlete) (1961–1989), Jamaican high jumper Devon Morris (born 1961), Jamaican sprinter Dewi Morris (born 1964), English rugby union footballer Dewi "Pws" Morris (1948–2024), Welsh actor and musician Dick Morris (born 1948), American political author, newspaper columnist and commentator Dontae Morris (born 1985), American convicted serial killer sentenced to the death penalty Dorothy Morris (1922–2011), American actress Doug Morris (born 1938), chairman and CEO of the Universal Music Group (1995–2011) and Sony Music Entertainment (2011–2017) Douglas Morris (1908–1990), Royal Air Force air marshal Douglas J. Morris (1861–1928), American lawyer, politician and judge Doyt Morris (1916–1984), American baseball outfielder
E Earl H. Morris, American archeologist Earl Morris (basketball coach) (born 1933), American high school basketball coach Earle Morris (curler) (born 1945), Canadian curler and coach Earle Morris Jr. (1928–2011), American politician, Lieutenant-Governor of South Carolina (1971–1975) Edgar Morris (1914–2002), Rhodesian cricket player Edita Morris (1902–1988), Swedish-American writer Edith Emily Morris (1895–1965), New Zealand jewellery designer and silversmith Edmund Morris (disambiguation) Ed or Edward Morris (disambiguation) Edwin Morris (disambiguation) Effie Morris (1921–2009), American librarian and educator Elfed Morris (1942–2013), Welsh footballer Elida Morris (1886–1977), American vaudeville singer, comedian and actress Eliot Morris (born 1977), American singer, songwriter and musician Eliza F. Morris (1821–1874), English hymnwriter Elisabeth or Elizabeth Morris (disambiguation) Elliot Morris (rugby league) (born 1996), English rugby league footballer Elliott Morris (disambiguation) Elwyn Morris (1921–2000), Canadian ice hockey player Eric Morris (disambiguation) Ernest Morris (1913–1987), British film director Ernest William Morris (1866–1937), English chemist, secretary and house governor of the London Hospital (1903–1930) Errol Morris (born 1948), American documentary film director Estelle Morris (born 1952), British politician and member of the House of Lords Esther Morris Leidolf, medical sociologist, and intersex activist Eva Morris (1885–2000), British supercentenarian, oldest recognised person in the world (1999–2000) Evan Morris (lobbyist) (1977–2015), American lobbyist Evelyn Morris, Australian musician
F Finlay Morris (1945–1967), Scottish professional golfer Flora Morris (c. 1890–?), British actress Floyd Morris (born 1969), President of the Senate of Jamaica (2013–2016) Frances Morris (disambiguation) Francis Morris (disambiguation) Frank Morris (disambiguation) Frazer Morris (born 1997), British rugby league player Fred Morris (disambiguation)
G Gareth Morris (1920–2007), British flautist Gareth A. Morris (born 1954), British chemist Garrett Morris (born 1937), American actor and comedian Gary Morris (born 1948), American singer and stage actor Gavin Morris (born 1998), South African cricketer G. Delbert Morris (1909–1987), American politician G. Elliott Morris (born 1996), American data journalist Genevieve Morris (born 1967), Australian actress Geoffrey Morris (disambiguation) George Morris (disambiguation) Geraint Morris (1941–1997), Welsh film and television director and producer Gerald Morris (born 1963), American writer of children's and young adult literature Gertrude Maesmore Morris (1872–1952), English-Australian actress Gideon Morris (1756–1798), trans-Appalachian pioneer and founder of Morristown, Tennessee Gilbert Morris (1929–2016), American Christian author Glenn Morris (1912–1974), American Olympic track and field athlete Glenn Morris (footballer) (born 1983), English football goalkeeper Gouverneur Morris (1752–1816), American statesman and diplomat Gouverneur Morris Jr. (1813–1888), American railroad executive Gouverneur Morris (novelist) (1876–1953), American author of pulp novels and short stories Graeme Morris (cricketer) (born 1963), English cricketer Graeme Morris (game designer), British RPG designer