Morton is a name of English origin that has been used for centuries. It is derived from the Old English word "mort", which means "dead", and the suffix "-on", which denotes belonging to or association with something. Therefore, Morton originally referred to someone who lived near a settlement called "Morth".
The name Morton first appeared in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, around the 10th century. It was initially used as a surname, but it later became popular as a given name as well.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Morton. Some examples include John Morton (1420-1500), who served as Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor of England during the late 15th century, and James Hutton (1726-1797), a Scottish geologist known as the "father of modern geology", whose full name was James Hutton Morton.
Despite its somewhat somber origin, the name Morton has a strong and distinguished sound to it. It is often associated with intelligence, strength, and leadership due to the achievements of many notable individuals who have carried this name throughout history. Today, Morton continues to be used as both a first and last name in English-speaking countries around the world.
These statistics show a dramatic rise and fall in the number of babies named Morton over time. From only 6 births in 1883 to a peak of 482 in 1923, Morton's popularity as a baby name surged significantly during the early 20th century. However, by the late 1930s, the number of babies named Morton began to decline sharply, reaching as low as 5 births in some recent years. Overall, there have been a total of 12,336 births with the name Morton from 1880 to 2021.