Morris

An Irish surname of Dublin and Mayo. In the 2010 US census it was carried by 318,884 people, the 62nd most common surname in the country.

Morris is the anglicised form of seven distinct Irish names. Some you can hear in the English name; others look and sound nothing like it, and were simply swapped for it.

de Moiréis. This family stood in Co. Cork, Co. Galway, Co. Kilkenny, Co. Laois, Co. Limerick, Co. Offaly, and Co. Tipperary.

Mac Muirgheasa, Mac Muirghis, son of Muirgheas (sea-choice, an ancient Irish personal name)

Mac Muiris, Mac Mhuiris, son of Maurice (a name introduced by the Normans). This family stood in Co. Kerry and Co. Mayo.

Moiréis

Muiréis

Ó Muirgheasa, descendant of Muirgheas (sea-choice). This family stood in Sligo Bay.

Ó Muirghis, descendant of Muirgheas (sea-choice)

Where the name comes from

de Moiréis is the Norman de Mareys, of the marsh, from living beside one. It is common in many parts of the south, especially Kilkenny, Tipperary, Offaly, Leix, Cork and Limerick. Near Kilmallock the popular form is Morresh, but officially it is incorrectly turned into Morrison. A family of the name settled at Galway in 1485 and became one of the tribes of that city.

Ó Muirgheasa is descendant of Muirgheas, sea-choice, and belonged to a branch of the Ui Fiachrach formerly chiefs of a district on the southern shore of Sligo Bay in the barony (an old land division, several parishes across) of Tireragh. Morrissey and Morris both come from it.

Mac Muiris is son of Maurice, a name introduced by the Normans, and it belonged to a branch of the Geraldines in Kerry who as lords of Lixnaw made a great figure in the history of that county, and to a branch of the Prendergasts in Co. Mayo. Fitzmaurice is the same name.

Moonlight reflecting on the sea near the Muglins lighthouse off Dalkey Island, Dublin, with the Kish light on the horizon
The Muglins by Moonlight II

The Morris counties, photographed

Dublin

Dublin is a county as well as a city. The bay has Howth at the north end and Killiney Hill at the south, the Muglins are a pair of rocks off Dalkey, and the Dublin Mountains start about half an hour from the city centre.

Long exposure panoramic view of the White Rock swimming platform at Killiney Bay, Dublin, floating in misty high-tide watersThe White Rock, Killiney Bay, Co. Dublin Co. Dublin Heron fishing at dawn on the Dublin coast — fine art wildlife photograph by Peter CoxHeron, Co. Dublin Co. Dublin

Mayo

Achill is the largest island off the Irish coast and is joined to the mainland by a bridge. Clew Bay is full of drumlins that were drowned when the sea rose, which is where the story about an island for every day of the year comes from. Croagh Patrick stands over the south side of the bay. Mayo's population is still less than half what it was before the Famine.

Black and white view across Doo Lough towards Ben Gorm and mountains, Co. Mayo, fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxDoo Lough, Co. Mayo Co. Mayo Black and white view of Dun Briste sea stack from a sea cave, Co. Mayo, fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxDún Briste from the Cave Co. Mayo Black and white lone tree standing in bogland with the Partry Mountains behind, County MayoLone Tree, Partry Mountains, Co. Mayo Co. Mayo Black and white long exposure of Dun Briste sea stack at Downpatrick Head, Co. Mayo, fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxDún Briste, Downpatrick Head, Co. Mayo Co. Mayo Moonrise over Croagh Patrick at night with trees and coastal lights, Co. Mayo, Ireland, fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxCroagh Patrick and Moon, Co. Mayo Co. Mayo Incoming tide flowing around rocks at Silver Strand beach at the base of Mweelrea Mountain, County MayoSilver Strand, Co. Mayo Co. Mayo Black and white infrared photograph of tree and stone wall with Lough Corrib beyond, Carrick, Co. Mayo, fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxCarrick, Co. Mayo Co. Mayo Ben Creggan mountain reflected in lake, Doo Lough Valley, Co. Mayo, Ireland — fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxBen Creggan, Co. Mayo Co. Mayo Benwee Head and the Stags after sunset, coastal mountains, Co. Mayo, Ireland — fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxBenwee Head, Co. Mayo Co. Mayo

All Dublin prints · All Mayo prints

Notable bearers

William Morris (1834-1896), writer, politician, and poet.

Heather Morris (born 1987), actor, singer, and film director.

Maren Morris (born 1990), singer, musician, and songwriter.

Kathryn Morris (born 1969), actor.

Michael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin (1914-1999), writer, politician, and film producer.

About this page

The counties on this page are where the name was thickest on the ground in Ireland a century and a half ago, not a claim about any one family. Names moved around inside the country as much as they left it. The photographs are mine, made in the counties named.

More Irish surnames: Smith · Brown · Miller · Wilson · Anderson · Thomas · Taylor · Moore · Jackson · Martin · Lee · Thompson

How common the name was

In 1890, 115 births were registered under Morris in Ireland, most of them in Dublin, Mayo, and Tyrone.

Ulster 32
Connacht 28
Leinster 19
Munster 6
Ireland 115

Tyrone is the one I haven't worked in.