| ![Show Contents]() Morell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Morell reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Morell family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Morell is based on the medieval given name Morel. The name was originally derived from the name More or Moore a nickname for a someone of dark complexion. This name stems from the Old French word Moor, meaning black man. 1 Early Origins of the Morell familyThe surname Morell was first found in Northumberland where one of the first records of the name was found at North Middleton, a township, in the parish of Hartburn. "This place, which was also called MiddletonMorell, from an ancient proprietor named Morell, was afterwards divided among various proprietors." 2 "John Morel was seated in Norfolk in 1086 (Domesday) and another - if not the same Morel, occurs in Northumberland nine years afterwards. " 3 Later the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included listings for Herveus Morel, Norfolk; Nicholas Morel, Norfolk; and Thomas Morel, Huntingdonshire. Morel (without surname), Cambridgeshire was also listed. 4 One source notes that Yorkshire proved to be an ancient homestead of the family. "The West Riding [of Yorkshire] is now the principal home of the Morrells, but they are also to be found in the other divisions of the county. In the 13th century they were represented by the Morels in Norfolk, Hunts, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire." 5 In Scotland, "Symon Morellus witnessed gift of the church of Molle to the Abbey of Kelso, c. 1190." 6 We include this interesting passage about one on the family from Wallis' Anitquities of Northumberland: "In the year 1095, Robert Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland, and his party, marched into Bamborough Castle for security, on the approach of the royal troops to chastise them for their treason. The King, William Rufus, besieged it in person. As traitors never think themselves safe anywhere, Mowbray secretly fled for sanctuary to St. Oswin's shrine at Tynemouth, where he was taken prisoner. His steward and kinsman, Morel, with a courage that would have done honour to a better cause, defended the Castle in the absence of his unfortunate lord. He defended it against all the forces of the King. The King had turned the siege into a blockade, and raised a fortress near it called Malvoisin, i.e. Bad Neighbour, some time before the Earl fled. Morel, not terrified by so many bad neighbours, still held out, with an astonishing perseverance and resolution, to the surprise of the King, who, beginning to be uneasy, tried to effect that by policy, which he could not do by force. He ordered the Earl to be led up to the very walls, and a declaration to be made, that if the Castle did not surrender, his eyes should be instantly put out. This succeeded to his wish. Morel no sooner beheld him in this imminent danger, than he consented to yield upon terms. For his fidelity and affection to his lord, and his gallant defence, the King took him into his Royal protection and favour. A god-like action, thus generously to reward a faithful enemy." While no exact date was given for this passage, we do know that "another John Morel (no doubt his descendant) held a fief in Northumberland in 1165." 3 Early History of the Morell familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Morell research. Another 229 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1202, 1317, 1620, 1697, 1704, 1788, 1795, 1839 and 1880 are included under the topic Early Morell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Morell Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Morell has been recorded under many different variations, including Morrell, Morel, Morrel, Morrall, Morrill, Murrill and others. Early Notables of the Morell familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Mary Morrill (Morrel/Morrills/Morill) (c. 1620-1704), birth name of Mary Folger, English-born indentured servant in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, grandmother of Benjamin Franklin; Benjamin Morrell (1795-1839), American sealing...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Morell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Morell RankingIn the United States, the name Morell is the 8,902nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7
 Morell migration to the United States | + |
To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Morells were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:
Morell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- William Morell, who landed in New England in 1623 8
- Daniell Morell, who arrived in Virginia in 1656 8
Morell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Peter Morell, who landed in Georgia in 1733 8
- Pierre Rodolph Morell, who arrived in Georgia in 1733 8
- Matthieu Morell, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1770 8
- David Lewis Morell, who settled in Philadelphia in 1799
Morell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Juan Antonio Morell, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1803 8
- Leslie Morell, aged 27, settled in New Orleans in 1822
- Leonardo Morell, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1844 8
- Jose Morell, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 8
- Esteban Morell, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1860 8
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Morell (post 1700) | + |
- George W. Morell (1815-1883), American civil engineer, lawyer, farmer, and a Union general in the American Civil War
- Wilbert Morell (b. 1954), American Engineer
- William Morell, English writer
- Peter Andreas Amundsen Morell (1868-1948), Norwegian Minister of Social Affairs
- Michael Morell, Associate Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
- John Daniel Morell (1816-1891), British educationalist
- Curdin Morell (b. 1963), Swiss Olympic bobsledder
- André Morell (1909-1978), British actor
- Abelardo Morell (b. 1948), Boston-based photographer
- A Morell, Actress, Theatre, Films, Radio and Television
| Historic Events for the Morell family | + |
- Mrs. Goldiana Gerogina Morell, Canadian 1st Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 9
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Bono animo esto
Motto Translation: Be of Good Courage
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
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Morell migration to the United States 
England
Scotland
