Morrill

Morrill is a surname and a place name in the United States. It designates several geographic locations, including the towns of Morrill, Maine, and Morrill, Nebraska, as well as Morrill County in Nebraska.

The Morrill Acts refer to two federal laws enacted in the 19th century to promote higher education. The Morrill Act of 1862, named for U.S. Senator Justin S. Morrill, granted public lands to states to fund colleges focusing on agriculture, engineering, and the mechanic arts, creating the basis for the land‑grant university system. The Morrill Act of 1890 expanded the program and, in states that maintained racially segregated public universities, required separate land‑grant institutions for Black students; many of these institutions developed into historically Black colleges and universities.

Justin Smith Morrill (1810–1898) was a U.S. Senator from Vermont who played a central role in securing passage of the Morrill Acts and shaping federal policy on higher education. The acts are considered pivotal in expanding access to higher education across the United States and in supporting public universities.

Outside politics, Morrill remains a present-day place name in several states and is carried as a surname by various individuals. The name thus figures in both geography and American educational history.