The Morrissey surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 13,564 people carried this name — #2,658 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 21,700 people counted. That is up 2% from 13,244 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Morrissey surname

As a surname in the United Kingdom

Harrison classes it as a Celtic name: ‘Descendant of Muirg(h)eas (Sea Charm or Conjuration)’.

From the Irish O'Muirgheasa: muir, “sea”, and geas, “a charm”.

From Henry Harrison, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary, vol. II (London: The Morland Press, 1918), p. 29 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 90 births for the Morrissey name in 1890.

Most were registered in Munster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 4,000 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 28 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Waterford, Limerick, and Cork.”

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Munster 67
Leinster 20
Connacht 3

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

31 people named Morrissey live in Switzerland.

They live in 5 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Bern.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Bern 12
Basel-Landschaft 6
Zurich 6
Geneva 4
Neuchâtel 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the Nordic population registers

29 people named Morrissey is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 29

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In print

Morrissey in American newspapers,
1874–1917.

Newspaper page from The Kentucky Gazette carrying the name Morrissey
The Kentucky Gazette 1874-05-09
Newspaper page from Harrisburg Telegraph carrying the name Morrissey
Harrisburg Telegraph 1917-09-06
Newspaper page from Will Maupin's Weekly carrying the name Morrissey
Will Maupin's Weekly 1912-04-05

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 2,761 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Morrissey in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

26,358 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Morrissey. The most, 6,935, date from the 1900s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 1.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 9,734
New South Wales 9,391
Western Australia 3,316
Queensland 2,439
South Australia 1,157
Tasmania 213
ACT (Canberra) 85

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Morrissey.

Who carried it

People named Morrissey,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Morrissey
    John Morrissey 1831–1878 · politician
  • Andrew Morrissey
    Andrew Morrissey 1860–1921
  • George Morrissey
    George Morrissey 1883–1964 · Australian rules football player
  • Tom Morrissey
    Tom Morrissey 1888–1968 · athletics competitor
  • Daniel Morrissey
    Daniel Morrissey 1895–1981 · politician

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 161 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Morrissey,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States3,303 records

3,303 records of the Morrissey name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 1,257
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 579
  • Other U.S. records 1,467
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Helen G. Morrissey

    Born 1914 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1942 in the Women's Army Corps at Boston; stenographer. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1997, buried at St Michael's Cemetery, Massachusetts.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Hannah Morrissey

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Germanic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 24; servant. From Queenstown, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Thomas J. Morrissey

    Born 1948; from Dover, New Hampshire. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1968 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 3,303 records for Morrissey in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia717 records

717 records of the Morrissey name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 251
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 219
  • Other Australian records 247
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Margaret Morrissey

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Hope, sailing from Dublin in 1842. Native of Galway. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1844.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary Morrissey

    Arrived in Victoria in 1860 aboard the Great Britain, aged 25; Irish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record Jack Morrissey

    Enlisted in 1914. Honoured on the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.

    City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU)

Showing 3 of 717 records for Morrissey in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Canada109 records

109 records of the Morrissey name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 92
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 7
  • Other Canadian records 10
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Morrissey

    Came to Ontario in 1879 aboard the Circassian, landing at Quebec, bound for Stratford, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Daniel Morrissey

    Died 1915 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record David Morrissey

    Died 1908; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.

Showing 3 of 109 records for Morrissey in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand22 records

22 records of the Morrissey name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 14
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 8
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Julia Morrissey

    Died 1936, aged 77; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Austin Joseph Morrissey

    Died 1948, aged 52; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John William Morrissey

    Died 1994, aged 80; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 22 records for Morrissey in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Ireland14 records

14 records of the Morrissey name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Anne Morrissey

    Died 1960, aged 65; buried at Killererin (Old), Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Joseph Morrissey

    Died 1907, aged 34; buried at Kilcummin, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Philip Morrissey

    Died 1991, aged 60; buried at Drumacoo, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 14 records for Morrissey in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom4 records

4 records of the Morrissey name in the United Kingdom War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record T. Morrissey

    Royal Irish Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. Morrissey

    Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Morrissey in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

France3 records

3 records of the Morrissey name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jocelyne Morrissey

    Born 1931 in Garches; died 1991 in Garches (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Gerald Morrissey

    Born 1924 in Paris; died 1999 in Garches (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Patricia Morrissey

    Born 1957 in Ireland; died 1993 in Nogent-le-Rotrou (Eure-et-Loir).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Morrissey.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Morrissey is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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