Morrison (surname) explained

The etymology of the surname Morrison is either Anglo-Norman, commonly found throughout England, Scotland and Ireland, or from the Clan Morrison, a Scottish clan originally from Sutherland and the Isle of Lewis (Eilean Leòdhais) in Scotland.

History

Morrison in England is traditionally believed to be a patronymic of Maurice/Morris,[1] introduced into England following the Norman invasion in 1066.

In Scotland there is strong evidence that other surnames of Anglo Norman origin such as Moir, Muir and More, were equally influential as potential multiple origin points for the derivative of the modern spelling of Morrison. This is supported by evidence including the association of Moor or Saracen head(s) on some Moor, Moore, More, Mores, Morrison, Mure and Muir family crests.[2] [3] While the Highland Clan Morrison derives from Mac Ghille Mhoire, or servants of Mary, the lowland Clan Morrison Society of Scotland, registered their arms featuring three Moor heads in 1919, demonstrating the symbolic similarity between all these families.

Historical evidence suggests many early surnames in Scotland were nuanced and altered by such simple devices as phonetic interpretations by religious scribes. For example, Scottish records identify a marriage in 1584 between George Morese and Babara Forguson in Aberdeen.[4] Later in other Aberdeen records their names become George Moreson and Barbara Ferguson,[5] then George Morrison and Barbara Ferguson.[6] Similar Morrison name evolutions are recorded in Edinburgh at this time. Those from the Clan Morrison may originally have been anglicised to Morison, with Morrison becoming more widely used later on.

Another form of name changing came through rebranding of surnames. This occurred in Scotland for both convenience or necessity to disguise a Scottish Highland name, for example, McCoinnich describes the adoption of the name Morrison on the Isle of Lewis (Eilean Leòdhais) around 1640 by families formerly known as "McBrief" or "mac a’ Bhritheimh".[7] Alexander Morison (Heraldry of the Clan MacGhille-mhuire) makes the statement that the name is from ancestors who were vassals or adherents of the jarls of More or Moeri in Norway.[8]

Perhaps the earliest recording of the recognisable surname Morrison is found in the English Yorkshire Poll Tax records in 1379 for "Ricardus Morisson”.[9] Some fifty years later in Scotland there is a Morrison recorded as "Arthuro Morison domino de Darleith" being a witness to the "Resignation by John MacRoger of Gleane MacKerne, in favour of John of Culquoune of Luss, of Gleane Mackecherne, etc. 7th February 1429".[10] The spelling Morrison became more popular over Morisson and Morison later on.

Following the gradual introduction of surnames in England, Scotland and Ireland many names such as Mirryson, Mirrison, Morisson, Morisone, Morrieson, Morriceson, Morason, Moorison, Mooresone, Morisoun, Moresoun, Murison, Muirison, Murieson, Murrison, Muresoun, Muirsoun and no doubt many other phonetic synonyms or Anglicised adaptations evolved and were standardised to become Morrison, Morison or Murison. Such standardisation in Scotland came after 1854 when Lord Elcho (Francis Richard Chateris, 10th Earl of Weymss) finally succeeded in framing An Act to Provide for the Better Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Scotland, 31 May 1854.[11]

Overall there is a common inconsistency in the spelling of Morrison or Morison in many records throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland. There is no particular rule or convention that specifies which spelling should be used. Morrison and Morison families today are widely distributed across England, Scotland and Ireland and in many cases with no common genetic or family ancestry. Morison is typically the older spelling of ancestors of the Clan Morrison from Sutherland and the Eilean Leòdhais, with Morrison being the more commonly used now.

Notable Morrisons

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. See George F Black (1946), p. 612.
  2. James Fairbairn (1905), pp. 396–403.
  3. Alexander Moir (1913).
  4. Scotlands People, Church Registers - Old Parish Registers Banns and Marriages, FR3914, 120 202, Aberdeen.
  5. Lord Provosts of Aberdeen (Munro, 1897, pp. 165–167)
  6. The Records of Aboyne (Huntly, 1894, p. 276)
  7. For example, see Aonghas McCoinnich (2015) who describes the adoption of the name Morrison on the Isle of Lewis around 1640 by families formerly known as "McBrief" or "mac a’ Bhritheimh", pp 64-65.
  8. Black (1946) makes the observation that "Equally baseless is the modern idea that "Morison" interpreted as "Mary’s son," represents Gaelic Mac Gille Mhuire". Alexander Morison (Heraldry of the Clan MacGhille-mhuire) makes the wild statement that the name is from ancestors who were vassals or adherents of the jarls of More or Moeri in Norway! (Black, 1946, p 639).
  9. see Nelson, P and Hinson, C. (2001) English Yorkshire Poll Tax records in 1379 for "Ricardus Morisson".
  10. See William Fraser (1869), "Arthuro Morison domino de Darleith" being a witness to the "Resignation by John MacRoger of Gleane MacKerne, in favour of John of Culquoune of Luss, of Gleane Mackecherne, etc. 7th February 1429", p. 287.
  11. Anne Cameron (2007) describes the history of this Act in detail, pp. 377–395.

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