This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Morrison family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Morrison Family History

Morrison Surname Meaning

Irish: from Ó Muirgheasáin ‘descendant of Muirgheasán’ a diminutive of Muirgheas a personal name meaning ‘sea valor’.

Scottish: from Gaelic Mac Moireasdain ‘son of Moireasdan’ a personal name cognate with Irish Muirgheasán’ (see 1 above).

Scottish and English: patronymic from the personal name Morris.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Morrison family from?

You can see how Morrison families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Morrison family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Morrison families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 1,195 Morrison families living in Lancashire. This was about 20% of all the recorded Morrison's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Morrison families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Morrison surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Morrison ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Morrison. 11% of Morrison men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Morrison women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Morrison were Bricklayer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Morrison | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    11%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Bricklayer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Morrison family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 986,000 census records available for the last name Morrison. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Morrison census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Morrison

Passenger Lists

There are 166,000 immigration records available for the last name Morrison. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Morrison immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 164,000 military records available for the last name Morrison. For the veterans among your Morrison ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Morrison military records

You've only scratched the surface of Morrison family history

Discover More

What is the average Morrison lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Morrison life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Morrison in 1940 was 54, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Morrison

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Morrison ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Morrison family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial