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Origins Available: English, Scottish

Where did the Scottish Morton family come from? What is the Scottish coat of arms/family crest? When did the Morton family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

The first people to use the name Morton were a family of Strathclyde- Britons who lived in the Scottish/English Borderlands. They lived in Cheshire, but by the 12th century most of the fmaily had moved to Dumfries in Scotland. Morton, or Moreton, come from the Old English word, mor, which means marsh, fen or moor, and tune, which means village or settlement.

Surnames that evolved in Scotland in the Middle Ages often appear under many spelling variations. These are due to the practice of spelling according to sound in the era before dictionaries had standardized the English language. Morton has appeared as Morton, Moreton, Moorton, Myrton and others.

First found in Cheshire where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

The North American colonies beckoned, with their ample land and opportunity as their freedom from the persecution suffered by so many clan families back home. Many Scots even fought against England in the American War of Independence to gain this freedom. Recently, clan societies have allowed the ancestors of these brave Scottish settlers to rediscover their familial roots. Edward Moreton settled in the Barbados in 1685; John Moreton settled in New England in 1663; Mathew Moreton settled in Virginia in 1698; George Morton settled in Plymouth Mass in 1623.

For more information on the last name Morton, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.

Some noteworthy people of the name Morton
  • Julius Sterling Morton (1832-1902), American, Secretary of Agriculture under Grover Cleveland (1893-97), who originated Arbor Day in Nebraska
  • Rosalie Slaughter Morton (1876-1955), American surgeon, who was the first woman faculty member of both the New York Polyclinic Medical School and Hospital, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons
  • Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton (1890-1941), American jazz composer
  • John Morton (1724-1777), American signer of declaration of Independence
  • Levi Parsons Morton (1824-1920), American banker and politician
  • William Thomas Green Morton (1819-1868), American dentist
  • Alan Lauder Morton (1893-1971), Scottish soccer player
  • James Douglas Morton (1516-1581), regent of Scotland
  • Thomas Morton (1781-1832), Scottish shipbuilder
  • Samantha Morton (b. 1977), English Actress
  • Levi Parsons Morton (1824-1920), vice president of the U.S.A. (1889-93) and governor of New York State (1895-96)
  • Henry Vollam Morton (1892-1979), English author and journalist
  • John Morton (1420-1500), English prelate
  • John Cameron Andrieu Bingham Michael Morton (1893-1979), English author
  • John Maddison Morton (1811-1891), English dramatist
  • Thomas Morton (1764-1838), English dramatist


Tell Me More About Family Crests


Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist


We have researched the Morton family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

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Family Crests: Timeline


Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

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Family Crests: Elements


In the Morton coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate


We encourage you to study the Morton genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

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Morton Family Crest Products


Anniversary products for the name Morton.
Apparel proudly displaying the Morton coat of arms.
Armorial histories for the name Morton.
Ceramics displaying the family crest for the name Morton.
Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.
Coat of Arms for the name Morton.
Downloads for the Morton family crest.
Family Crest for the name Morton.
Family Tree featuring the family crest for the surname Morton.
Hand Painted Plaques proudly displaying the Morton family crest.
Keychains emphasing the family crest for the name Morton.
Mouse pads displaying the family crest for the name Morton.
Packages proudly displaying the Morton family crest.
Plaques and Frames revealing the Morton family crest.
Surname Histories for the name Morton.
Travel Mugs displaying the Morton family crest.
Popular Products
Armorial History With Coat of Arms
Coat of Arms & Surname History Package
Family Crest Image (jpg) Heritage Series - 150 DPI
Key-chain
Coffee Mug
Armorial History with Frame
Framed Surname History and Coat of Arms
 

The Morton Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Morton Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

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