Orriss Family History

Probably in most instances a variant of Orridge with sibilation of the final palatal consonant to /ʃ/ and /s/ to give (H)orrish and (H)orris. It was sometimes associated with the personal name Horace in modern times by folk etymology.

Some of the following bearers could alternatively belong with (2). Occasionally perhaps from the Middle English personal name Orace (Latin Horatius possibly of Etruscan origin) but it was exceptionally rare in medieval England and is unlikely to be the main source of the surname.