Morris

Morris is a surname of English and Welsh origin that is also used as a given name in some cases. The surname is generally a patronymic form of the given name Maurice, deriving from the Latin Mauricius and the Old French Morice, and it began to appear in England after the Norman Conquest. In Welsh contexts, it can arise from ap Morys, meaning "son of Morys." The name spread with English migration and is common in many English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Variants include Morice, Maurice, and Morris.

There are several places named Morris in North America, and Morris County is a recognized administrative division in New Jersey. The name is also associated with towns or municipalities in other parts of the United States and Canada.

Morris is linked to Morris dance, a traditional English folk dance that has several regional styles and has been performed for centuries. The Morris worm, released in 1988, is one of the first computer worms to gain widespread attention and is named after its author, Robert Tappan Morris.

Today, Morris remains a common surname and is occasionally used as a given name, appearing across fields such as politics, science, and the arts. Variants and related surnames continue to appear in genealogical and historical records.