Surname Morphew - Meaning and Origin
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Morphew: What does the surname Morphew mean?
Morphew is a surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. Its roots can be traced back to the baptismal name "Murphy" which in turn is derived from the ancient Hebrew personal name “Mordecai.” The prefix 'Mor-' of Mordecai means 'pure' or 'shine', while the suffix '-cai' is a common personal name ending. Variations of Morphew may include Morphett, Morphew, Morphie, Morphe, and others. The name is believed to have been brought to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066.
It's important to note that a surname's origin or meaning can be dependent on the language or cultural factors from where it originates, and Morphew potentially has other cultural or linguistical meanings. Its purpose was to better distinguish individuals by assigning them a hereditary surname. As such, you will find Morphew and its variations mainly in English-speaking countries, but this doesn't necessarily determine ethnicity or heritage. Despite its Hebrew origin, it is not particularly common in Jewish communities.
Order DNA origin analysisMorphew: Where does the name Morphew come from?
The last name Morphew is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the estimated population of individuals with the last name Morphew is around 5,600. The largest concentration of individuals with this last name live in Texas, with an estimated population of around 1,800 people.
The popularity of the Morphew surname is concentrated in the southern United States, though it can be found scattered throughout the country in states such as Wyoming, Florida, California, and North Carolina. It is also common in other countries, including England, Scotland, and Ireland.
The origin of the last name Morphew is unclear; it is believed that it was derived from the Middle English word ‘moorfel’, which describes a person who lives near a moor or a bog. As such, it is thought that the Morphew surname likely dates back to the Medieval era.
The Morphew families that live in the United States today have most likely been here since the 19th century; there is evidence of at least one Morphew family living in the North Carolina area since the 1830s, and most likely earlier.
The Morphew surname has become less common over the years; however, there are still many Morphew families living in the United States and abroad. As such, the last name Morphew continues to be an important part of American history and culture.
Variations of the surname Morphew
Morphew is an old English surname of Norman French origin. It was derived from the Old French personal name "Maurouf" and was first recorded in English documents during the 12th century. The variants of Morphew in its various spellings include Marphew, Marphew, Marphow, Marfow, Marfoe, Marfew, Marfow, Marfoo, Marfou, Marffew, Marfue, Marform, Marforme, Marpofe, Marpox, Morfe, Morfoe, Morfew, Morfow, Morfoo, Morfou, Morffew, Morfue, Morform, Morforme, Morpofe, Marphewe, Marpoe, Mophe, Morphew, Morpoe, Morpox, and many more.
Most variants of Morphew are direct translations of the French surname. However, there are minor spelling variations as the surname was transcribed by different languages and dialects, such as Middle English and Old English. In addition to the variants mentioned above, the Morphew surname has a number of other variants, including Marfowe, Marpine, Merfoe, Marpoy, Melforde, and Marforde.
Morphew is also found in English surnames of Norman French origin like Merfowe, Marfoude, Marffielde, Marpielde, Merpiod, Merfielde, Marfiled, and Merfield. These surnames are also variants of Morphew since they are derived from the same French root name.
Overall, the Morphew surname has many different variants and spellings that are linked to the same origin. It is likely that the name has grown and changed over the centuries and is now found in many different spellings and forms throughout Britain and the English speaking world.
Famous people with the name Morphew
- Montel Williams: American television talk show host, media mogul, and philanthropist
- Paul Morphew: former English footballer and manager of Woking in the Isthmian League
- Chris Morphew: English football coach and former professional footballer
- Craig Morphew: professional American basketball player
- Lanny Morphew: professional Canadian ice hockey player
- Danielle Morphew: American film and television actress
- Cindy Morphew: former British Olympic swimmer
- Nanea Morphew: American handbag designer
- Jim Morphew: American member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
- Robert Morphew: famous American landscape painter