Morris is a name of more than one root that became part of Irish family life, including among the famous Tribes of Galway.
Where does the Morris name come from?
Morris comes most often from the medieval personal name Maurice, from the Latin Mauritius, meaning “dark” or “Moorish.” In Ireland it also served as an anglicised form of Gaelic names such as Ó Muirgheasa, and was the name adopted by a branch of the Norman settlers. The strands meet under the single spelling Morris.
Morris in Ireland
The name is notably one of the Tribes of Galway, the fourteen merchant families who dominated that city for centuries, and from whom came the title Lord Killanin. As a name of both Norman and Gaelic origin, Morris is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Did you know?
- Morris most often comes from the personal name Maurice.
- The Latin root Mauritius means “dark” or “Moorish.”
- Morris was one of the Tribes of Galway.
- The family gave rise to the title Lord Killanin.
- The name survives today in Ireland and across the diaspora.
Related Irish family names
You may also like Morley, Molloy, and Barry.
Carry the Morris name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — ornaments, garden flags, woven blankets and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the Morris collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Morris an Irish surname?
Morris is found in Ireland as a Norman name and as an anglicisation of certain Gaelic names, and was one of the Tribes of Galway.
What does Morris mean?
It comes most often from the personal name Maurice, from a Latin word meaning “dark” or “Moorish.”
Is there a Morris family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our Morris products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.
