The Morse surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 41,774 people carried this name — #824 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 7,060 people counted. That is up 2% from 41,112 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Morse surname

A surname transferred from the given name, variant of Morris, from the given name Maurice.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Morse» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Morris’.

His entry covers Morse and Morss.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 541 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Morse was found among the farmers of Wiltshire: 22 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Wiltshire 22

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

435 families named Morse, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 2,547 people lived in those households, 5.9 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 2 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 239
New Hampshire 59
Connecticut 49
Vermont 32
Maine 19
New York 15
Virginia 9
North Carolina 9
South Carolina 2
Rhode Island 1
Pennsylvania 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 254 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Morse in American newspapers,
1903–1915.

Newspaper page from Evening Journal carrying the name Morse
Evening Journal 1915-10-19
Newspaper page from Smyrna Times carrying the name Morse
Smyrna Times 1908-02-19
Newspaper page from The Columbian carrying the name Morse
The Columbian 1903-07-02

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 30,272 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Morse in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

23,567 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Morse. The most, 4,239, date from the 1900s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Tasmania, at 2.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 7,330
Queensland 5,911
Victoria 3,697
Tasmania 3,232
Western Australia 1,668
South Australia 1,499
ACT (Canberra) 140
Northern Territory 9

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

Who carried it

People named Morse,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Nicholas Morse d. 1772 · politician
  • Robert Morse d. 1818 · military engineer
  • Leonard Morse d. 1808 · military engineer
  • Margaret Morse d. 2023 · academic
  • Robert Morse d. 1653
  • Harriet Morse d. 1870

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Morse,
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 States4,502 records

4,502 records of the Morse name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,531
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 1,091
  • Other U.S. records 1,880
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Harry Madison Morse

    Born 1946; from Baltimore, Maryland. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1966 in South Vietnam. Buried at Annapolis National Cemetery, Maryland.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Lynn E. Morse

    Born 1920 in New York. Enlisted 1944 at Fort Dix, New Jersey; driver from Orange County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2001, buried at Wallkill Cemetery, Middletown, New York.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1912 aboard the Pannonia from Genoa, aged 22; farm laborer. From Nervesa, Treviso, Italy; bound for Utica.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 4,502 records for Morse in the United States.

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

Canada946 records

946 records of the Morse name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 891
  • City of Niagara Falls (Ontario) cemetery records 18
  • Other Canadian records 37
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Russell Morse

    Killed in 1956 at the Springhill No. 4 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Graham Parsons Morse

    Died 1950, aged 66; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Raymond David Morse

    Died in service in 1942.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 946 records for Morse in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

Australia663 records

663 records of the Morse name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 258
  • Tasmanian Names Index 216
  • Other Australian records 189
  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 Robert Morse

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the David Clarke, sailing from Plymouth in 1841. Native of Flint, Flintshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1849.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record William Morse

    Died 1909 in General Hospital, Launceston, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1909.

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

    Arrived in Victoria in 1887 aboard the Salier, aged 24; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 663 records for Morse in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (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) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). 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); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

United Kingdom29 records

29 records of the Morse name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 13
  • Welsh wills index cards 10
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 6
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Morse

    Buried in 1852 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 83.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record William Edward Morse

    Will proved in 1924; of Haverfordwest.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. S. Morse

    Sapper, Royal Engineers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

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

Showing 3 of 29 records for Morse in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand20 records

20 records of the Morse name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elizabeth Morse

    Died 1913, aged 73; buried at Linwood 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 Ruby Florence Morse

    Died 1918, aged 25; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jack Douglas Morse

    Died 1986, aged 70; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 20 records for Morse in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City 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).

Netherlands16 records

16 records of the Morse name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 7
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 5
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 4
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Charles Pierce Morse

    Died 1970 in Overleden op Zee; born in San Francisco.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record David Morse

    Died 1965 in Amersfoort, aged 73.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Jacobje Jacobs Morse

    Married in 1795 in Doornspijk.

    Open Archives, Streekarchivariaat Noordwest-Veluwe (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 16 records for Morse in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France1 record

1 record of the Morse 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 Jananne Morse

    Born 1923 in the United States; died 1994 in Caen (Calvados).

    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 Morse.

When the index is not enough

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

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