MORTON
The Morton surname is of English origin, deriving from geographical features of the British Isles. The name is traditionally locational, indicating a dwelling in or near a marsh or moor, and has been documented in a variety of spellings such as Morten, Moorton, Mourton, Moreton, Mairtoun, and Mirton.
The etymology of Morton stems from Old English, combining the word mor – meaning “marsh” or “moor” – with the suffix -ton, which denotes an enclosure or settlement. Consequently, the surname can be interpreted as “settlement near the marsh” or “dweller by the moor.” The surname appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 in over twenty different places called Moreton or Morton across English counties such as Berkshire, Cheshire, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire.
In Scotland the name is associated with the village of Morton in Dumfriesshire and with the former spelling Mryrton in Fife. In Ireland the Morton surname is understood to be of English origin, carried by early settlers who adopted the name for its locational significance. Early recordable mentions include Hugh de Mortun, prior of May in Scotland in 1204; Robert de Morton of Nottingham in the Hundred Rolls of 1273; and Master Thomas Mirton, chaplain to the king of Scotland in 1422.
The earliest surviving example of the family name is probably that of Robert de Mortone, dated 1130 in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire during the reign of King Henry the First. This early registration affirms the antiquity and enduring presence of the Morton surname within the historical records of England.
Typical given names associated with the Morton surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- William
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jean
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Marton
- Marten
- Maerten
- Martens
- Maertens
- Marto
- Martone
- Myrton
- Mareton
- Marrton
- Martoun
- Motron
- Maartens
- Maertin
- Mairtin
- Maraden
- Maradin
- Maraton
- Mardan
- Mardani
- Marden
- Mardin
- Mardini
- Mardon
- Mareden
- Maritan
- Maritano
- Maritn
- Marrtin
- Martain
- Martan
- Martean
- Martein
- Martian
- Martien
- Martin
- Martina
- Martine
- Martineau
- Martini
- Martinn
- Martino
- Martinou
- Martinu
- Martion
- Martn
- Martom
- Martoni
- Marttin
- Martun
- Martyn
- Martyna
- Martyne
- Maughton
- Mauton
- Mawton
- Meardon
- Meartin
- Mearton
- Meerten
- Meertens
- Mehrtens
- Merdon
- Meredeen
- Mereton
- Meridan
- Meriden
- Meridian
- Meridon
- Meriton
- Merreden
- Merridan
- Merriden
- Merriton
- Merten
- Mertens
- Mertin
- Merton
- Mertons
- Merttens
- Mertyn
- Mirtin
- Mirto
- Mirton
- Moerton
- Mooradian
- Moorton
- Moradian
- Moraton
- Mordain
- Mordan
- Morden
- Mordin
- Mordini
- Mordon
- Moredon
- Moreto
- Moreton
- Morettini
- Moretto
- Moriton
- Morlton
- Mornton
- Moron
- Morston
- Mort
- Mortain
- Mortan
- Morten
- Mortin
- Mortini
- Mortn
- Mortons
- Mortson
- Mortton
- Mortu
- Mortyn
- Mouradian
- Mourton
- Muirden
- Muraton
- Murden
- Murdin
- Murdon
- Murten
- Murtin
- Murto
- Murton
- Myrddin
- Mortoo
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Morton in...
Braille
⠍⠕⠗⠞⠕⠝
Morse
-----.-.-----.
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Morton are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a M&S All Butter.
There are approximately 28,659 people named Morton in the UK. That makes it the 281st most common surname in Britain. Around 440 in a million people in Britain are named Morton.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Morton
- Samantha Morton - Actress and film director
- Euan Morton - Actor
- James Morton - Chef
- Wendy Morton - Politician
- Clive Morton - Actor (1904 to 1975)
- Tom Morton - Scottish writer, broadcaster, journalist and musician
- Alexander Morton - Scottish actor
- Lionel Morton - Musician
- Alan Morton - Scottish football player (1893 to 1971)
- Everett Morton - Drummer, songwriter
- Henry Vollam Morton - Journalist and writer (1892 to 1979)
- Desmond Morton - Civil servant (1891 to 1971)
- Andrew Morton - Australian software engineer
- Ben Morton - Football player (1910 to 1962)
- Bob Morton - Football player (1927 to 2002)
- Michael Scott Morton - Engineer
- Lucy Morton - Swimmer, Olympic gold medallist (1898 to 1980)
- Agnes Morton - Tennis player (1872 to 1952)
- Jordan Morton - Football player
- Pete Morton - Singer-songwriter
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.