Moriss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Wales

The English surname Moriss comes from the place name St. Maurice, Normandy where N. de St. Maurice was listed in the Magn. Rotul. of Normandie (1180-1195.) This personal name is in turn derived from the Latin name Mauritius, which comes from maurus, meaning " a moor."

Early Origins of the Moriss family

The surname Moriss was first found in Herefordshire. Early records there show Isabell, John and Margeries Morice in England c. 1272. The same census shows William filius Maurici in Huntingdon, Richard filius Maurycii in Cambridge and Peter filius Maurice in Lincoln county. The surname may also be a nickname for someone who was "swarthy" as shown by the Robert le Mareys reference in 1274.

Early History of the Moriss family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Moriss research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1297, 1308, 1314, 1654, 1678, 1682, 1703, 1704, 1721 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Moriss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Moriss Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Morris, Morriss, Moriss, Morrice, Morice, Moris and others.

Early Notables of the Moriss family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Moriss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Moriss family to Ireland

Some of the Moriss family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Moriss family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Richard Morris (d. 1672), who, after serving in Oliver Cromwell's army, became a merchant in Barbados, emigrated to New York City (Dutch New Amsterdam) where he purchased a tract of land in what is now the Bronx, starting a line of prominent American landowners and statesmen. Other settlers of the name include Humphrey Morris, on record in Barbados in 1635.

Contemporary Notables of the name Moriss (post 1700) +

Moriss Taylor (1925-2018), American country, western music entertainer and founder of The Moriss Taylor Show, one of the longest-running locally produced television shows in history (1956-2015)