The earliest branch of the family came to England with the army of William the Conqueror. It is certain that several leaders in the army of William the Conqueror bore the name of Morris or Maurice. William erected the Battle Abbey on the field of Hastings to commemorate his victory, and several by the name of Morris are inscribed on this historic monument and were rewarded with grants of land in England. One of these was a Maurice who was one of William's chaplains, and who was made Bishop of London. He is said to have crowned Henry I in 1100 A.D.
One prominent branch of the continental family is found in Ireland. The name Morris in Ireland is of Norman origin from the names de Maries and de Marisco. The name is also used interchangeably with Morrissey and Fitzmaurice. The main Sept bearing this name was originally based in County Galway in the West of Ireland. They have a separate crest
