The surname is from the given name of Morris in English and Maurice in French. The Latin form is Mauritius.

A very common surname in Ireland and especially in the Ulster area. The Irish spelling can also be Mac Muirisand Muiris. Wales, the spelling is Morusand Morys. In Germany, the Morrison surname is Moritz.

In England the surname is in Northumberland, Lancashire and around London. The biggest population in Scotland are located in Perth, Highland and Aberdeen.

Most in the Morrison family have originated from England, Wales and Ireland.

In the United States the Morrison families are in Massachusetts, Ohio, York, Pennsylvania, California and Illinois.

Famous: Toni Morrison (author, Nobel Prize winner), Phil Morrison (baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates), William Morrison (British founder of the Morrisons supermarket chain in early 20thcentury), Grant Morrison (Scottish comic book writer and artist), Chick Morrison (early 20th century film actor), Bret Morrison (actor), DeLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison Sr., (Mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana 1946-1961), William Frederick Morrison (American inventor of the Frisbee disc), Most Rev. James Morrison (Canadian Catholic Archbishop), Marion Morrison (legal birth name of actor John Wayne), Ronald Hugh Morrison (New Zealand writer), Kirk Morrison (professional football player) and Fynes Morrison (17thcentury English traveler and writer).