Show ContentsMorrissey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish name Morrissey has a long Gaelic heritage to its credit. The original Gaelic form of the name Morrissey is O Muirgheasa, which is derived from the words muir, meaning sea, and geas, meaning action.

Early Origins of the Morrissey family

The surname Morrissey was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland.

Early History of the Morrissey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Morrissey research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Morrissey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Morrissey Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Morrissey were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Morrissey, O'Morrissey and others.

Early Notables of the Morrissey family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was

  • Morrissey of Sligo

Morrissey World Ranking

In the United States, the name Morrissey is the 2,524th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. [1] However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Morrissey is ranked the 311st most popular surname with an estimated 147 people with that name. [2] And in Australia, the name Morrissey is the 957th popular surname with an estimated 4,148 people with that name. [3]


United States Morrissey migration to the United States +

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name Morrissey or a variant listed above:

Morrissey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Richard and William Morrissey, who settled in Boston in 1823
  • John and James Morrissey, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1848
  • Roger Morrissey, aged 37, who landed in New York, NY in 1848 [4]
  • Thomas Morrissey, aged 37, who arrived in New York, NY in 1848 [4]
  • John Morrissey, aged 40, who landed in New York, NY in 1848 [4]

Canada Morrissey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Morrissey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Peter Morrissey, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1817
  • Allis Morrissey, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1821
  • John Morrissey and Hannah with their six children settled in Quebec in 1848

Australia Morrissey migration to Australia +

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

Morrissey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Patrick Morrissey, (b. 1805), aged 22, Irish farm servant who was convicted in Tipperary, Ireland for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 19th July 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [5]
  • Mr. Edward Morrissey, (b. 1802), aged 26, Irish clerk who was convicted in Waterford, Ireland for 7 years for being an Irish rebel, transported aboard the "Borodino" on 11th February 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1829 when he drowned [6]
  • Michael Morrissey, aged 39, a blacksmith, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "John Bunyan" [7]
  • Johanna Morrissey, aged 22, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "James Fernie" [8]
  • David Morrissey, aged 28, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "David Malcolm" [9]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Morrissey (post 1700) +

  • Brigadier-General William Joseph Morrissey (1888-1965), American Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, War Department General Staff (1942-1946) [10]
  • Jim Morrissey (b. 1962), former American NFL football linebacker
  • Francis Joseph Morrissey (1899-1968), American football player and coach
  • Bill Morrissey (b. 1951), American folk singer/songwriter
  • Paul Morrissey (b. 1938), American film director
  • Sinéad Morrissey (b. 1972), Northrn Irish poet
  • John "Old Smoke" Morrissey (1831-1878), Irish-born, bare-knuckle boxer and a gang member in New York in the 1850s who later became a Democratic State Senator and U.S. Congressman from New York
  • David Morrissey (b. 1964), English two-time BAFTA Award nominated actor and film director, known for The Walking Dead (2012-2022), The Long Shadow (2022) and Sherwood (2022)
  • Dame Helena Louise Morrissey D.B.E., C.B.E. (b. 1966), née Atkins, born in Bowdon, Cheshire, British Financier and Campaigner was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 17th June 2017, for services to Diversity in Financial Services
  • Donna Morrissey (b. 1956), Canadian Gemini Award winning author from The Beaches, Newfoundland
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

SS Southern Cross
  • Mr. Michael Morrissey (1891-1914), Newfoundlander from Riverhead who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found


The Morrissey Motto +

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: Si Deus nobiscum qui contra nos
Motto Translation: If God be with us, who can be against us.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  3. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  4. 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)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Borodino
  7. South Australian Register Wednesday 24th May 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) John Bunyan 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/johnbunyan1854.shtml
  8. South Australian Register Friday 17th November 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) James Fernie 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/jamesfernie1854.shtml
  9. South Australian Register Tuesday 1st May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) David Malcolm 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/davidmalcolm1855.shtml
  10. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) William Morrissey. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Morrissey/William_Joseph/USA.html


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