Morris is a name of English origin that has been used for centuries. It is derived from the Old French word "Moreis," which was a variant of the given name Maurice. Maurice itself comes from the Latin name Mauritius, which means "dark-skinned" or "of Moorish descent." The name Morris has been popular in England since the Middle Ages and has been used as both a first name and a surname.
The name Morris is thought to have been brought to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It was initially used primarily among the nobility, but over time it became more widespread and was adopted by people of various social backgrounds.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Morris. For example, William Morris was a prominent British textile designer, poet, and socialist activist in the late 19th century. Additionally, the Morris Motor Company, founded in 1912, produced iconic cars such as the Morris Minor and Morris Oxford.
Today, Morris remains a popular choice for parents looking for a classic yet distinctive name for their sons. It has been consistently ranked among the most common names in English-speaking countries over the past century. While its origins are rooted in the distant past, the name Morris continues to be relevant and meaningful in the modern world.
The statistics show a significant decline in the number of babies named Morris over time, with the highest recorded year being 1912 with 960 births and the most recent year in 2023 having only 105 births. The peak period for the name Morris seemed to be around the early 1900s to the 1920s, with numbers dropping significantly from the late 1940s onwards. Interestingly, there were years between 1970 and 2006 where fewer than 100 babies named Morris were born annually, indicating a considerable decrease in popularity for this name during that period.