Maurice Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Maurice Origin:

England, Wales, France

Origin of Maurice:

Listed in many recordings of the surname as Maur, Maure, Mauret, Maurice in English and French, Mauro in Italian, Mauri and Mor in Portugese, Moro in Spanish and much more. It is a Roman(Latin) surname, of Christian origins. It is traditional and acquires from word “maurus” which means Moorish, or bright or dark. It was on the basis that the Moors from Morocco were black, and they introduced themselves to the world especially by attacking communities of Spain and conquering almost all of the Roman army. It is because of that, during the Dark Ages from the 5th to 10th-century a.d, the name as Maur in its many different formations, became a famous name in the time before surnames, introduced in the Christian world as an introduction name for any child with black hair or dark coloring. It developed into Britain by the Norman-French attackers after 1066, it was first listed in the Latinized form as Mauricius de Edligtona in the records of the Danelaw for the city of London in 1176, with the first documentations of the surname afterward only shortened form.

Variations:

More common variations of this name are: Mauricea, Maeurice, Mauriece, Maurrice, Maaurice, Maureice, Mauerice, Marice, Murice, Maurce.

England:

The surname Maurice was first organized in Herefordshire, where culture, according to the Professor Ormerod, finds the family name to have descended from Athelstan, Glodryadd, Godson of Athelston, the lord of England who developed the four Royal clans of Wales, and on his mother’s side rejected from Caradoc Vriechfras, King of Hereford, one of the champions of the Round Table. Descendants were Hoedliw Goch ap Rhys, Gwrgenau ap Hoedliw Goch, Grono ap Gwrgenau, Griffith ap Grono, Madoc ap Griffith, Howel ap Madoc, Phillip Dorddu ap Howel, Cadwgan second son of Phillip and much more, to Mory’s ap Morgan. Also, Evan Maurice who was the smallest son of Maurice ap Morgan who moved to Kent, his son Sir William Maurice hold the lands of the hamlet of Chuston in West Putford.

The very first recording spelling of the family was shown to be that of Jasce Mauricii, which was dated 1191. It shows in the Pipe Rolls of the City of London. It was during the time of King Richard I, who was known to be the “The Lionheart,” dated 1189 – 1199.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Maurice settled in the United States in three different centuries respectively in the 17th, 18th, and 19th. Some of the people with the name Maurice who settled in the United States in the 17th century included Roger Maurice, who settled in New England in 1631. William Maurice, who arrived in Virginia in 1637. John Maurice, who came to Maryland in 1650. Elizabeth Maurice, who came to Maryland in 1654. George Maurice, who arrived in Virginia in 1656.

Some of the people with the name Maurice who settled in the United States in the 18th century included Samuel Maurice, who settled in New York in 1795. George Maurice arrived in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1796.

Some of the people with the name Maurice who settled in the United States in the 19th century included Thomas Maurice, at the age of 23, settled in New York, NY in 1812. James Maurice, who landed in New York, NY in 1816. Ann Maurice settled in New York in 1820. Germain Maurice, who landed in Texas in 1844. Eduard Maurice, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850.

Canada:

Some of the people with the name Maurice who settled in Canada in the 18th century included Anne Maurice, at the age of 29, Marie Maurice, at the age of 24, and Rose Maurice, at the age of 24, all arrived in St Pierre and Miquelon in the same year in 1767.

Australia:

Some of the people with the name Maurice who settled in Australia in the 19th century included Price Maurice arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Caleb Angas” in 1840. Augusta Maurice arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Eliza” in 1849. Augusta Maurice, at the age of 28 came to South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship “Eliza.”

Here is the population distribution of the last name Maurice: United States 4,823; Canada 3,794; Egypt 19,203; France 15,307; Nigeria 8,864; Haiti 7,041, Madagascar 5,384; Rwanda 3,578; Uganda 3,361, Kenya 2,982.

Notable People:

Benoît Maurice (born 1971), was a French football player.

Charles G. Maurice (1911–1997), was an American professor of dentistry and administrator of Endodontics.

Clément Maurice (1853–1933), was a French cameraman.

David Maurice (1626–1702), was a Welsh priest.

Jean-Eudes Maurice (born 1986), was a French-born Haitian football player.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Brynygwalie, co. Denbigh, and Bodynfol, co. Montgomery; descended, through Llewelyn Voelgrwn, Lord of Main, from Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, Prince of Powys; the only dau. and heir of the late Rev. Richard Maurice, of Brynygwalie, m. John Bonner, Esq., and their son, Robert Maurice Bonner Maurice, Esq., purchased the estate of Bodynfol, co. Montgomery). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. on a bend ar. three escallops gu.; 2nd and 3rd, ar. a lion pass. sa. a bordure indented gu. Crests—1st: A unicorn’s head erased sa. winged ar. horned, maned, and bearded or, holding in the mouth a shamrock ppr.; 2nd: A lion pass. sa., as in the arms.
2) (Lloran, co. Denbigh, and Pentrekenrick, co. Salop; descended from Einion Efell, one of the sons of Madoc ap Meredydd ap Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, Prince of Powys. The Rev. Thomas Maurice, the learned author of “Indian Antiquities,” &c., was of the Pentrekenrick family). Per fesse sa. and ar. a lion ramp. counterchanged of the field, armed and langued gu.
3) (Astrad, co. Denbigh; descended frnm Ririd Flaidd, Lord of Penllyn, North Wales). Ar. a chev. betw. three wolves’ heads erased sa.
4) (Myrod Llanhassaph, co. Flint). Sa. three roses ar.
5) Gu. a lion ramp. reguard. or. Crest—A hawk perching upon the stump of a tree or, armed and belled gu.
6) Gu. three roses ar.
(Fun. Ent. Ulster’s Office, 1620, Jasper Maurice). A chev. removed betw. three bucks’ heads cabossed.