Morriss

Morriss is a surname of Welsh origin, derived from the given name Morris, itself a medieval form of Maurice.

Etymology and History

The root of the name is the Roman Mauritius, from Maurus, meaning "dark" or "Moorish." Saint Maurice, a 3rd-century Roman soldier from Egypt and patron saint of infantry soldiers, popularised the name in Christian tradition. The name was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest in the form Morris or Moris. The double-s spelling Morriss is particularly associated with Welsh surnames, where it developed as a patronymic or variant.

Notable bearers include Frank Morriss (1927–2013), an American film editor; Guy Morriss (1951–2022), an American football player and coach; Jeremy Morriss, a New Zealand Paralympic boccia player; historian Margaret Shove Morriss (1884–1975); singer-songwriter Mark Morriss (born 1971); bass player Scott Morriss (born 1973); and baseball player Simon Morriss (born 1985).

Variants and Related Names

Variants of the surname include Morce, Morison, Morris, Morrish, Morrison, and Morse. In Welsh and other cultures, Maurice (French) and Morris (Welsh) are related.

• Meaning: Derived from Morris, ultimately meaning "dark"
• Origin: English (Welsh)
• Type: Surname
• Usage regions: United Kingdom, United States