Show ContentsMorella History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Morella name are uncertain, but most scholars seems to agree that the name likely comes from the Latin term "maurus," used to describe either a Moor, or anyone of a markedly dark complexion. There have also been place names such as Morella, a town in the Spanish province of Casteldon de la Plana, and Morelli, Calabria, and the Morella surname may have been taken on from the name of the place whence its original bearer hailed. This name can be found in forms with the typical Italian surname endings of "i" and "o," the former being characteristic of northern Italy, the latter, more typical in the South.

Early Origins of the Morella family

The surname Morella was first found in Florence (Italian: Firenze), where a family of this name has resided since the 14th century.

Early History of the Morella family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Morella research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1571, 1608, 1690, 1745, 1747, 1778 and 1819 are included under the topic Early Morella History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Morella Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Morelli, Morèlli, Morello, Morèllo, Morella and many more.

Early Notables of the Morella family

Prominent among members of the family was Lazzaro Morelli (1608-1690), an Italian sculptor of the Baroque period; Ferdinando Morello of the Morello di Caltanissetta e di Messina family, who acquired the barony of Trabonello in 1747; James Morelli (1745-1819), an...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Morella Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Morella migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Morella Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Felipe Morella, aged 40, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Morella (post 1700) +

  • Melvin Morella Boothman (1846-1904), American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from Ohio 6th District, 1887-91


  1. 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)


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