How to Pronounce Morris
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Morris name meaning
First Name
71k
in the U.S.
since 1880
71k
in the U.S.
since 1880
Last Name
319k
in the U.S.
in 2010
319k
in the U.S.
in 2010
Girls
Boys
Meaning and Origin
What does the name Morris mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Morris
User Submitted Origins
English
63%
African
20%
Dutch
6%
French
3%
Gaelic
3%
Jamaican
3%
Berber
3%
User Submitted Meanings
- According to a user from Florida, U.S., the name Morris means "Son of Maurice".
- A submission from New Jersey, U.S. says the name Morris means "Shadow".
- A user from Zambia says the name Morris is of African origin and means "Strong".
- A submission from Australia says the name Morris means "Male responsible" and is of Berber origin.
- A user from Netherlands says the name Morris is of Dutch origin and means "Emperor of God. Nobody is better than him".
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun Mor"ris
Senses
- A Moorish dance, usually performed by a single dancer, who accompanies the dance with castanets.
- A dance formerly common in England, often performed in pagenats, processions, and May games. The dancers, grotesquely dressed and ornamented, took the parts of Robin Hood, Maidmarian, and other fictitious characters.
- An old game played with counters, or men, which are placed at the angles of a figure drawn on a board or on the ground; also, the board or ground on which the game is played."The nine-men's morris is filled up with mud." [Shak.]
Note: ☞ The figure consists of three concentric squares, with lines from the angles of the outer one to those of the inner, and from the middle of each side of the outer square to that of the inner. The game is played by two persons with nine or twelve pieces each (hence called nine-men's morris or twelve-men's morris). The pieces are placed alternately, and each player endeavors to prevent his opponent from making a straight row of three. Should either succeed in making a row, he may take up one of his opponent's pieces, and he who takes off all of his opponent's pieces wins the game.
Etymology: Sp. morisco Moorish, fr. Moro a Moor: cf. F. moresque, It. moresca
noun Mor"ris
A marine fish having a very slender, flat, transparent body. It is now generally believed to be the young of the conger eel or some allied fish.
Etymology: So called from its discoverer
Other Dictionary Sources
- United States statesman who led the committee that produced the final draft of the United States Constitution (1752-1816)
- Leader of the American Revolution who signed the Declaration of Independence and raised money for the Continental Army (1734-1806)
- English poet and craftsman (1834-1896)
- United States suffragist in Wyoming (1814-1902)
Wiktionary
The surname has converged from several origins; see Morris.
- A male given name from Old French, a medieval form of Maurice.
- An English and Scottish patronymic surname.
- An Irish surname, an anglicization of Ó Muirghis (“descendant of Maurice”).
- A Welsh patronymic surname, an anglicization of Meurig (“Maurice”).
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
- A city, the county seat of Grundy County, Illinois.
- A city, the county seat of Stevens County, Minnesota; named for railroad official Charles A. Morris.
- A town in Manitoba; named for Canadian politician Alexander Morris.
- A town in Alabama; named for early pioneer Mae Morris.
- A city in Oklahoma.
- A town in Wisconsin.
- A town in Connecticut; named for Revolutionary War officer James Morris III.
- An unincorporated community in Georgia, United States; named for James Morris, a son of a railroad agent.
- An unincorporated community in Indiana.
- A town and village in New York; named for Gen. Jacob Morris, son of Declaration of Independence signatory Lewis Morris.
- An unincorporated community in Pennsylvania.
- An unincorporated community in Nicholas County, West Virginia; named for a local family.
- A ghost town in Kanawha County, West Virginia.
- A type of folk dance originating in England.
- Synonym: morris dance
- A former make of British motor car.
Notable Persons Named Morris
Notable Persons Named Morris
Morris Chestnut
Morris Chestnut is an actor. His most notable accomplishments were from 1990 to present. Morris was given the name Morris Lamont Chestnut on January 1st, 1969 in Cerritos, California, United States.
Morris Day
Morris Day is a rock music, pop music, rhythm, blues, soul music, funk, funk rock, funk metal, new wave music, electronic dance music, and hip hop music musician, singer, and drummer. His most notable accomplishments were from 1981 to 1981. Morris was given the name Morris E. Day on December 13th, 1957.
Mac Davis
Mac Davis is a country music and pop music singer-songwriter and actor. He plays Guitar and Vocals. He was most active from 1968 to present. Mac was given the name Morris Mac Davis on January 21st, 1942.
Morris Claiborne
Morris Claiborne is a football player for the Dallas Cowboys. He has been prominent since 2012. Morris was born on February 7th, 1990 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Morris is also known as Claiborne, Morris Lee; Claiborne, and Morris L..
Morris Dees
Morris Dees is a civil rights, social justice activist, african-american civil rights movement (1954–68), social justice, and civil rightsandsocial justiceactivist. Morris was given the name Morris Seligman Dees, Jr. on December 16th, 1936 in Shorter, Alabama.
Morrie Schwartz
Morrie Schwartz was a professor. Morrie was given the name Morris S. Schwartz on December 20th, 1916 in New York City. He passed away on November 4th, 1995.
Notable Persons With the Last Name Morris
Notable Persons With the Last Name Morris
Heather Morris
Heather Morris is an actress, singer, dancer, and model. She has had major accomplishments since 2006. Heather was given the name Heather Elizabeth Morris on February 1st, 1987 in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S.
William Morris
William Morris was an artist, designer, writer, and socialist. William was born on March 24th, 1834 in Walthamstow. He died on October 3rd, 1896.
Maren Morris
Maren Morris is a country pop and folk rock singing, songwriter, and guitarist. She plays Singer-songwriter and Vocals. She was most prominent from 2005 to present. Maren was given the name Maren Larae Morris on April 10th, 1990 in Arlington, Texas.
Dick Morris
Dick Morris is an author. Dick was given the name Richard S. Morris on November 28th, 1946 in New York City, New York, U.S.
Chris Morris
Chris Morris is a black comedy and satire comedian. Chris was given the name Christopher J Morris on June 15th, 1962 in Colchester.
MattyBRaps
MattyBRaps is a songwriter and rapper. He was most prominent from 2010 to present. MattyBRaps was given the name Matthew David Morris on January 6th, 2003 in Duluth, Georgia.
- Markieff MorrisBasketball Player
- Errol MorrisFilm Director
- Lamorne MorrisActor
- Marcus MorrisBasketball Player
- Julian MorrisActor
- Robert MorrisUnited States Superintendent of Finance
- Keith MorrisSinging
- Tony MartinMusician
- Phil MorrisActor
- Stephen MorrisMusician
- Wanya MorrisSinging
- Janet Ellen MorrisAuthor
- Nathan MorrisSinger
- Robert Tappan MorrisProfessor
Common last names for Morris
Ethnicity Distribution
| Ethnicity | Morris | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| █ | White | 73.59% | 64.26% |
| █ | African American | 20.08% | 11.96% |
| █ | Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander | 0.57% | 4.85% |
| █ | American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.98% | 0.69% |
| █ | Two or More Ethnicities | 2.24% | 1.76% |
| █ | Hispanic or Latino | 2.55% | 16.26% |
Of Last Name Morris
People with the last name Morris are most frequently White or African American
Entire United States
Fun Facts about the name Morris
| #62 | Popular Surnames |
| #23 | Last Name First Names |
| #46 | Old-Fashioned Boy Names |