Surname Morrissey - Meaning and Origin

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Delving deep into my genetic ancestry through iGENEA DNA test redefined my understanding of my family roots. The hidden genetic narratives associated with the Morrissey surname unraveled an extensive Irish Celtic connection on the paternal side and distinctive Jewish lineage on the maternal side. Moreover, it beautifully traced the stories of migration, resilience, and kinship that were inscribed in my DNA.

U. Morrissey

Morrissey: What does the surname Morrissey mean?

Morrissey is an Irish surname that originated from the Gaelic name Ó Muirgheasa, which translates to "descendant of Muirgheas." The name Muirgheas itself is derived from two Gaelic words: "muir," which means "sea", and "geas," which means "action, activity, or feat." Therefore, the full meaning of the original name is often interpreted as "sea action" or "navigator". The Morrissey name is particularly popular in County Sligo and County Cork in Ireland. Over time, with Gaelic names being anglicized after the Norman invasion of Ireland, Ó Muirgheasa became Morrissey. Like many other Irish surnames, it is now widely found throughout the world due to the Irish diaspora. Some famous people with the Morrissey surname include British singer and lyricist Steven Patrick Morrissey, known mononymously as Morrissey, and American actor David Morrissey.

Morrissey: Where does the name Morrissey come from?

The last name Morrissey is particularly common in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In England, traditionally a stronghold of the Morrisseys, the name is most strongly associated with the border regions of Northumberland, Derbyshire, Lancashire and Cheshire. Outside of the UK, the name has spread to other countries with a large population of Irish immigrants. The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are all home to significant populations of individuals with the Morrissey surname.

In England, the Morrissey surname is particularly popular in the North-West and West Midlands regions of England. According to the last United Kingdom Census, the four most popular locations for the Morrissey name are in Lancashire, Derbyshire, Cheshire West, and Wolverhampton.

In the United States, the Morrissey surname is moderately common, especially in the Northeast and Midwest regions of the country. Major cities such as Chicago, Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia all have significant populations of individuals with the Morrissey surname.

In Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the Morrissey surname is commonly found in cities with large Irish populations, such as Dublin, Limerick, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Christchurch. As with the United States, the Morrissey surname is particularly common in the East Coast of these countries.

Given its popularity in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and many English-speaking countries around the world, the Morrissey surname is likely to remain popular for many years to come.

Variations of the surname Morrissey

The surname Morrissey is of Irish origin and the variants, spellings and surnames for the same origin include O'Morrissey, Morrisy, Morrisey, O'Morressey, O'Morrisey, O’Morrishy and Morrissy. The surname is a form of the Irish surname Ó Muirgheasa, which is derived from the personal name ‘Muirgheas’, meaning ‘sea-choice’.

In the early 19th century, many people of this name migrated to Scotland and it is possible that the who adopted this spelling, Morrissey, during this time. Subsequently, the adoption of this spelling spread to Ireland, Great Britain, Canada and the United States of America.

In Irish records, many spellings of this surname have been found, such as O'Morrissey, O'Morressey, Morrisey and Morrisy. In countries other than Ireland, the widely accepted spelling is Morrissey, though other variations, such as Morrissy, have been noted in Scotland and the United States of America.

In certain Irish official documents, the spelling O'Morrishy has been used, which is in line with the original pupose of the suffix ‘O’, meaning ‘descendant of’ and the ‘ishy’ element, which is derived from the Irish word ‘uisce’, meaning ‘water’.

The numerous spelling variations of Morrissey demonstrate the continual evolution of the Irish language throughout history, as this surname has taken on new forms in different countries and has been adapted to prevailing languages.

Famous people with the name Morrissey

• Steven Morrissey, commonly known as Morrissey, an English singer, songwriter, and author
• Dave Morrissey, an English actor
• James Morrissey, a former professional boxer
• Mickey Morrissey, a former American football player
• Maureen Morrissey, a former Irish politician
• Nigel Morrissey, a former English cricketer
• Chris Morrissey, an American jazz musician
• Simon Morrissey, a British lawyer
• Mark Morrissey, an Irish actor and director
• Jamie Morrissey, a professional Canadian football player
• Joseph Morrissey, an Irish politician
• Brandon Morrissey, an American basketball player
• Fireball Morrissey, an Irish horse trainer
• John Morrissey, a former Irish-American boxer and politician
• Alonzo Morrissey, an American soldier and Medal of Honor recipient

Other surnames

Morrissy