Surname Morrow - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling My Personal Heritage through My Surname 'Morrow': Insights from iGENEA DNA Test

A fascinating personal evolutionary journey tracing the origins and historical progression of my family name 'Morrow'. Through an iGENEA DNA test, I explored my roots linked to Gaelic-speaking Scots, the Murray clan, and the Pictish tribes of ancient Scotland, leading me to a world steeped in rich cultural and historical heritage.

G. Morrow

Morrow: What does the surname Morrow mean?

The surname Morrow is of Gaelic and Irish origin and derived from the Gaelic term "Murchadh," which means "sea warrior" or "sea battler". It originated from a region known as Desmond, an Anglicized form of the Irish Deasmhumhain, which makes up the southwest part of County Cork and part of County Munster in Ireland. This surname was found predominantly in Donegal in North West Ireland. Variations of the surname include Morow, Morrough, O'Morchoe, Murrow and others. Over time, several bearers of Morrow have migrated to different countries, making it a common surname in Scotland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. As with many surnames, details of its meaning can sometimes get lost or varied, but the general consensus is the association with a 'sea warrior'.

Morrow: Where does the name Morrow come from?

The last name Morrow is very common across the United States and Canada, with thousands of individuals having this last name. In the United States alone, there are over 17,000 individuals with this name, making it the 577th most popular name in the country. Within the state of California, Morrow is the 314th most popular last name, and in the state of New York, it is the 277th most popular last name.

Morrow is most heavily concentrated in the Central Plains region of the United States, with Oklahoma having the highest concentration of this name. Morrow also shows up a lot in certain parts of the Midwest and South, with Touissant, Mississippi having the highest overall concentration in the country.

Canadians with the last name Morrow are most heavily concentrated in the Maritime Provinces, with Nova Scotia having the largest concentration of this surname. The city of Halifax has the highest concentration within this province, along with Moncton and Bridgewater. Overall, over 10,000 Canadians have the last name Morrow.

Variations of the surname Morrow

Morrow is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Mhuirich ("son of Muirich"). The name is found throughout the Scotland and Ireland, with slight variations in its spellings. Variants of the Morrow surname include MacMurrough, MacMurrow, Murrow, Morow, Murrough, and MacMorrow.

In Scotland, the surname is mainly found along the Scottish Borders, Dumfriesshire and Ayrshire. Early records have shown that the family held estates near the solway firth in Dumfriesshire, and branched out across the country in early medieval times. A Norman influence is seen in the ancient form of the surname, as the family originated from Normandy and was granted lands in Scotland and Ireland in the 12th century by King Malcolm IV.

In Ireland, the surname is most common in counties Dublin, Cork, Donegal, and Monaghan. The name has also been anglicised to Murrey, McMurray, McMurrey, Murry, and Murry.

The earliest record of the name in the New World was found in the early 1700’s when a Morrow family arrived in Philadelphia. The different variants of the Morrow surname can be found in countries such as England, Scotland, Ireland, and the United States, with branches in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and other parts of the world.

Famous people with the name Morrow

• Rob Morrow: An American actor, director, and producer who won an Emmy Award for his performance in the television series Northern Exposure.
• Robbin Morrow: An American singer, songwriter, and producer, and part of the etherealwave duo, Airiel.
• Jeff Morrow: An American actor perhaps best known for the films The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms and This Island Earth.
• Talia Shire: An American actress best known for her roles as Adrian Balboa in the Rocky series, Connie Corleone in The Godfather films, and Carmela Corleone in The Godfather Part III.
• Kevin Morrow: An American football player who was a member of the Super Bowl-winning Oakland Raiders teams in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
• Della Reese: An American singer, actress, and ordained minister who is best known for her role as Tess in the television series Touched by an Angel.
• Vic Morrow: An American actor, director, and producer best known for his roles in the television series Combat! and The Twilight Zone.
• Chris Morrow: An American singer and songwriter.
• Gretta Morrow: An American professional supportive caster for Blizzard Entertainment, and a part of its esports department.
• Michael Morrow: An American actor and producer best known for the television series How To Get Away With Murder.

Other surnames