Morrill is an ancient Norman name that arrived in
England after the
Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Morrill comes from the medieval given name
Morel. The name was originally derived from the name
More or
Moore a
nickname for a
someone of dark complexion. This name stems from the Old French word
Moor, meaning
black man.Early Origins of the Morrill family
The surname Morrill was first found in
Northumberland where one of the first records of the name was found at North Middleton, a township, in the parish of Hartburn. "This place, which was also called MiddletonMorell, from an ancient proprietor named Morell, was afterwards divided among various proprietors."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Early History of the Morrill family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Morrill research.
Another 225 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1620, 1704, 1795, 1839, 1788 and 1880 are included under the topic Early Morrill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Morrill Spelling Variations
Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of
spelling variations. When the
Normans became the ruling people of
England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Morrell, Morel, Morrel, Morrall, Morrill, Murrill and others.
Early Notables of the Morrill family (pre 1700)
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Mary Morrill (Morrel/Morrills/Morill)
(c. 1620-1704), birth name of Mary Folger, English-born indentured servant in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, grandmother of Benjamin Franklin; Benjamin...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Morrill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Morrill family to the New World and Oceana
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in
England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Morrill or a variant listed above were:
Morrill Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Abraham Morrill, who arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1632 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - Isaac Morrill, who arrived in New England in 1632 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)
Morrill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- L H Morrill, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - Paul Morrill, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - D Morrill, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - G Morrill, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - C Morrill, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Morrill (post 1700)
- Donald Morrill (b. 1955), American non-fiction author and poet
- Walter Goodale Morrill (1840-1935), Union Army officer in the American Civil War, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station
- Richard L. Morrill (b. 1939), American academic, President of the University of Richmond (1988-1998), Centre College (1982-1988) and Salem College (1979-1982)
- Charles Henry Morrill (1843-1928), American businessman in Nebraska, eponym of Morrill County, Nebraska
- James Lewis Morrill (1891-1979), American academic, 8th President of the University of Minnesota (1945-1960)
- Anson Peaslee Morrill (1803-1887), American politician, 24th Governor of Maine (1855-1856)
- Rowena A. Morrill (b. 1944), American science-fiction and fantasy artist
- Stewart "Stew" Morrill (b. 1952), American head coach of the Utah State University men's basketball team
- Justin Smith Morrill (1810-1898), U.S. Senator from Vermont, whose is best known for his namesake legislation: the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act
- Stanley B. Morrill, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 9 aerial victories
- ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
The Morrill 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: Bono animo esto
Motto Translation: Be of Good Courage