Show ContentsMorrow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Morrow is a nickname type of surname, derived from the Old French word "more," meaning "dark skinned," which in turn derives from the Phoenician "mauharim," meaning "eastern." This name was applied to Moors and other people with dark complexions. 1 Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Surnames derived from nicknames were quite common; they usually reflected physical characteristics or other attributes of the first person.

Early Origins of the Morrow family

The surname Morrow was first found in Burgundy (French: Bourgogne), an administrative and historical region of east-central France, where this eminent family has held a family seat since ancient times.

Moreau was also found in the town of Montmoreau located in the department of Charente in the southwestern part of France. 1

The family rose to nobility through the ages including in Brittany (French: Bretagne) where they were the lords of Keravel, cited in 1426. Over in Berry, the Moreau family were Lords of Chassy, and one of them was an alderman to the town of Bourges in 1651. Later they were also the lords of Lizoren, ennobled in 1819. 2

Louis Moreau, born in 1649, son of François and Françoise (née Dubout), was a French doctor that travelled from La Rochelle to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in Quebec he married Elizabeth Gagnon, daughter of Robert and Marie (née Parenteau), at Sainte-Famille on 21st February 1678. They had two daughters together, Élisabeth, born 28th September 1679, and Geneviève, born 2nd November 1681. They lived together in Quebec until Louis passed away at the age of 34 on 15th January 1683. 3

Early History of the Morrow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Morrow research. Another 314 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1386, 1467, 1477, 1522, 1656, 1717, 1733, 1740, 1741, 1750, 1763, 1781, 1787, 1791, 1793, 1804, 1806, 1813, 1814, 1819, 1826, 1882, 1884, 1892 and 1898 are included under the topic Early Morrow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Morrow Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Moreau, Morreau, Moreaux, Morreaux, Morault, Morrault, Moreault, Moreaul, Morreaul, Moreaud, Morreaud, Moraud, Morraud, Morot, Morrot, Moreu, Morreu, Moreux, Morreux, Moron, Morron, Moureau, Moureaux, Moureaul, Moureu, Moureux, Mouraut, Mourault, Mouron, Lemoreau, Lamoreau, Lamoreaux, la Moreau, de Moreau, de la Moreau, Demoreau and many more.

Early Notables of the Morrow family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Jean-Baptiste Moreau (ca. 1656-1733), a French composer of the baroque period; Jacob Nicolas Moreau of Burgundy, born in 1717; Moreau of Saint-Rémy (1750-1819), a representative of Martinique at the Constituent Assembly; Pierre-Jean...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Morrow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Morrow World Ranking

In the United States, the name Morrow is the 525th most popular surname with an estimated 54,714 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Morrow is ranked the 863rd most popular surname with an estimated 6,171 people with that name. 5 And in Australia, the name Morrow is the 846th popular surname with an estimated 4,656 people with that name. 6 New Zealand ranks Morrow as 747th with 971 people. 7


United States Morrow migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Morrow Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Francois Morrow, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 8
  • Philip Morrow, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1757 8
  • David Morrow, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1772 8
  • Elizabeth Morrow, who landed in South Carolina in 1772 8
  • Richard Morrow, who landed in America in 1795 8
Morrow Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Morrow, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1802 8
  • Agnes Morrow, who landed in America in 1805 8
  • Andrew Morrow, aged 26, who arrived in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1805 8
  • Andw Morrow, who arrived in America in 1805 8
  • James Morrow, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Morrow migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Morrow Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James Morrow, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Jane" from Galway, Ireland
  • Nancy Morrow, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1834
  • Peggy Morrow, aged 2, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1834
  • Grace Morrow, aged 11 months, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1834
  • Francis Morrow, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Robert Burns" in 1834
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Morrow migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Morrow Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Morrow, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th July 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Jane Morrow, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Britannia" in 1846 10
  • Jane Morrow a domestic servant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Britannia" in 1846 10
  • William Morrow, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Isabella Watson" in 1846 11

New Zealand Morrow migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Morrow Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Hugh (J.P. ) Morrow, Irish settler from County Westermeath, Ireland, travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th June 1861 12
  • Mrs. Eliza Morrow, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th June 1861 12
  • Miss Lizzie Morrow, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th June 1861 12
  • Lieut. John Morrow, British settler from Royal Longford Rifles, travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th June 1861 12
  • Lieut. Hugh Morrow, Irish settler from Westermeath Rifles, travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th June 1861 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Morrow (post 1700) +

  • Willie Lee Morrow (1939-2022), American businessman and inventor who invented the Afro pick and developing the forerunner to the Jheri curl hairstyle
  • Bobby Joe Morrow (1935-2020), American sprinter who won three gold medals at the 1956 Olympics
  • William Morrow (d. 1931), American publisher and founder of William Morrow and Company (1926)
  • Juliet Morrow (b. 1962), American archeologist and university professor
  • Douglas Morrow (1913-1994), American film screenwriter and producer
  • Doretta Morrow (1928-1968), American film actress and dancer
  • Bill Morrow, former President and COO of Pacific Gas and Electric Company
  • William Phillip Morrow (b. 1954), U.S. Republican politician
  • Karen Morrow (b. 1936), Emmy Award winning American singer and actress best known for her work in musical theater
  • Joshua Morrow (b. 1974), Emmy Award-nominated American actor
  • ... (Another 76 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Dorsetshire
  • Douglas Edward Morrow (d. 1945), British Able Seaman aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 13
North Sea Flood
  • James A. Morrow, British worker aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
  • James Morrow, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
RMS Lusitania
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Thomas Rowan Morrow (d. 1912), aged 30, Irish Third Class passenger from Rathfriland, Down who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 15
St. Francis Dam
  • Mr. William Edward "Ed" Morrow, Meixcan born American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
  • Mr. Roy Morrow, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928


Suggested Readings for the name Morrow +

  • The Morrows, and Related Families, 1640-1978 by J.T. Morrow.
  • Morrow Cousins by Ophelia M. Phillips.

  1. Dionne, N.-E., Origine Des Familles Canadiennes-Français. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969. Print.
  2. Hozier, Charles D, and Antoine Bachelin-Delforenne. État présent De La Noblesse française (1883-1887): Contenant Le Distionnaire De La Noblesse Contemporaine Et Larmorial général De France, Dapres Les Manuscrits De Ch. D Hozier. Librairie Des Bibliophiles, 1884. Print.
  3. Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. 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)
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-grey
  10. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRITANNIA 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Britannia.htm
  11. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ISABELLA WATSON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846IsabellaWatson.htm
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  14. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  15. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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