MacMorris Surname History

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of MacMorris

What does the name MacMorris mean?

The MacMorris family comes from the ancient Scottish Dalriadan clans of the mountainous west coast of Scotland. The name MacMorris is derived from the Gaelic name Muiredachus, meaning "belonging to the sea, a mariner," from which also comes the more common and quite distinct name Murdoch.

Early Origins of the MacMorris family

The surname MacMorris was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the MacMorris family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacMorris research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1485 and 1845 are included under the topic Early MacMorris History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacMorris Spelling Variations

Spelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. MacMorris has appeared in various documents spelled MacVurrich, MacVurich, MacVarish, MacVarrais, MacVarrich, MacWirriche, MacVorist, MacVorish, MacMorice, MacNuirighe and many more.

Early Notables of the MacMorris family

More information is included under the topic Early MacMorris Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacMorris family

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name MacMorris or a variant listed above: Archibald, Florence, Lachlan, Mary and Merrau McVurich arrived in New York State in 1739.

Contemporary Notables of the name MacMorris (post 1700) +

Walter MacMorris Dack (1852-1912), Canadian newspaper publisher and politician who represented Bruce Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1886 to 1894, eponym of Dack Township in Timiskaming District; he was son of John Walter Dack, an immigrant from Ireland