Morphett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
In ancient Scotland, the first people to use Morphett as a surname were the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name someone who lived in the place called Moffatt, in Scotland. The place-name is derived from the Gaelic words magh and fada, which mean field and long. Hence, the surname Morphett means, from the long field.
Early Origins of the Morphett family
The surname Morphett was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, at Annandale where the first on record was Nicholas de Mufet who began his life as a simple cleric and was first recorded as witness to a charter by Walter, bishop of Glasgow, some time before 1232. Approximately twenty years later, in 1250, he was made Archdeacon of Theuidale and eventually, in 1268, he was made Bishop of Glasgow. After only two years of holding the position of bishop, he died, in the year 1270. 1
Early History of the Morphett family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Morphett research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1348, 1467, 1553, 1604, 1795, 1815, 1870, 1883 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Morphett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Morphett Spelling Variations
Before the printing press standardized spelling in the last few hundred years, no general rules existed in the English language. Spelling variations in Scottish names from the Middle Ages are common even within a single document. Morphett has been spelled Moffatt, Maffat, Maffett, Maffet, Moffat, Moffet, Moffett, Moffert, Moffertt, Moffit, Moffitt, Merphet, Merphett, Merfet, Merfett, Murphat, Murphatt, Murphet, Murphett, Muffat, Muffatt, Muffett, Muffet, Muffit and many more.
Early Notables of the Morphett family
Notable amongst the family at this time was Thomas Muffet (also Moufet, Mouffet, or Moffet) (1553-1604), an English naturalist and physician, best known for his Puritan beliefs, his study of insects in regard to medicine; and Robert Moffat (1795-1883). Starting off as a gardener, he decided to become a missionary...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Morphett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Morphett family to Ireland
Some of the Morphett family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Morphett migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Morphett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- John Morphett, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Cygnet" in 1836 2
- George Morphett, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Brightman" in 1840 3
- Richard Morphett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Taglioni" in 1842 4
- George Morphett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Enmore" in 1846 5
- George Morphett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Isabella Watson" in 1846 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Morphett (post 1700) +
- Anthony David "Tony" Morphett (1938-2018), Australian Logie Award winning screenwriter from Sydney, New South Wales, known for Dynasty (1969), The Last Wave (1977) and Water Rats (1996)
- Andrew Kenneth "Drew" Morphett OAM (1948-2017), Australian sports broadcaster
- Tony Morphett (b. 1938), Australian two-time Logie Award winning screenwriter from Granville, New South Wales
- Sir John Morphett (1809-1892), English-born, Australian pioneer arriving at Kangaroo Island in 1836 and rose to become a prominent landowner and politician
Historic Events for the Morphett family +
Citations +
- 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)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Cygnet arrived Holdfast Bay, Adealide Sept. 11, 1836. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1836Cygnet.htm
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRIGHTMAN 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Brightman.htm
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) TAGLIONI 1842. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1842Taglioni.gif
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ENMORE 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Enmore.gif
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ISABELLA WATSON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846IsabellaWatson.htm
- HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
