Surname Morton - Meaning and Origin

Morton: What does the surname Morton mean?

Morton is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It combines two Old English elements: "mor," meaning "marsh" or "fen," and "tun," meaning "settlement" or "enclosure". Thus, the surname Morton directly translates to "settlement by the marsh." Many families with the surname Morton can trace their ancestry back to areas in England with marshy or fenland geography, further demonstrating the relationship between surnames and historical, geographical context. The name Morton was first found in Cheshire, England, but variants of the name can be traced back throughout other parts of the UK, including Scotland and Wales. As with many surnames, it was adopted as a way of identifying individuals from a particular location. There are several other variants and spellings of the name, including Moreton, Mawrton, and others. Today, Morton is a common last name in many English-speaking countries around the world.

Morton: Where does the name Morton come from?

The surname Morton is of Anglo-Saxon origin, commonly found in England and Scotland. The name is geographical, derived from Old English "mor" meaning marsh or fen, and "tun" meaning enclosure or settlement. Therefore, Morton refers to a settlement near a marsh or fen.

This surname first emerged during the 12th century, with various families adopting the name in different regions of England and Scotland. Notable branches include the Mortons of Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Norfolk in England, and the Mortons of Monybuie in Scotland.

Today, the name is most commonly found in the United States, England, and Australia. According to data from Forebears, the country with the highest frequency of the Morton surname is Grenada, followed by Northern Ireland and Scotland. In terms of absolute numbers, however, the United States has the highest population of people with the Morton surname.

Variations of the surname Morton

The surname Morton, originated in England, is derived from Old English "mor" meaning marsh or fen, and "tun" meaning settlement or enclosure.

Various geographical locations in Britain were named Morton and thus people living there acquired the name. It became more diverse when it spread with the British empire. From Morton, several variations and alternate spellings came to be including Morten, Moreton, Mawrton, Murton, Mortan, Mortonson, Mortyn, and even Mawrthyn.

As a surname, some famous bearers include the playwright Clifford Morton and the American Morton Salt family. It's also common among Jewish families as an Anglicized form where the original surname may have been similar in sound or meaning.

Due to significant English, Irish, and Scottish immigration to America, the Morton surname is now common there with further variations like Mortenson and Mortinson resulting from Dutch or Scandanavian influence.

Surname distribution maps show the name's continued prevalence in the UK, particularly in Midlothian, Scotland, and Cheshire, England as well as its spread to the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Hence, the last name Morton, with its various spellings, transcends multiple global regions, languages, and generations, yet typically points back to common British origins.

Famous people with the name Morton

• Mary Tyler Moore: Actress, television producer and philanthropist
• Hugh Morton: Founder of North Carolina’s Grandfather Mountain State Park
• Gus Morton: Writer, producer and director of film and television
• Kyle Morton: Indie folk singer-songwriter
• Samantha Morton: English Actress
• T. Bones Morton: Major League Baseball outfielder
• William Morton: American dentist and pioneer of anesthesia
• Marjorie Morton: Actress best known for her silent film roles
• Fredrick Morton: British-American journalist and author
• Harry Morton: Founder of the Pink Taco restaurant chain
• Thomas Morton: British actor, comedian and presenter
• DaMaris B. Morton: Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• Marcia Gay Harden: Actress
• John Morton: Founding father and signer of the Declaration of Independence
• Thomas Morton: Notoriously raucous early settler of the Plymouth Colony
• Joy Morton: Founder of the Morton Salt Company
• Jami Morton-McLean: Oklahoma state representative
• Jeffrey Morton: Canadian actor and voice actor
• Robert Morton: English organist and composer
• Jillette Johnson: Singer-songwriter

Other surnames

Mortock