Find out how popular the last name Morissette is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Morissette.

Morissette, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Morissette surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Morissette in America

Morissette is the 25102nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Morissette surname appeared 989 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Morissette.

We can also compare 2010 data for Morissette to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Morissette

The surname Morissette has its origins in France, specifically in the northern region of Normandy. It likely emerged in the 11th or 12th century, derived from the Old French term "moris" or "moriset," which referred to someone with a dark complexion or tanned skin. This name was initially used as a descriptive nickname before becoming an inherited surname.

During the Middle Ages, the name Morissette appeared in various records and documents across Normandy. Some of the earliest known references can be found in the Trésor de Chronologie, a collection of historical records from the 12th century, where individuals with this surname were mentioned in relation to land ownership and local affairs.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the Morissette name was Guillaume Morissette, a Norman nobleman who lived in the late 12th century. He was known for his involvement in local politics and his participation in the Third Crusade, which took place between 1189 and 1192.

In the 14th century, the Morissette family established a presence in the town of Rouen, where they were involved in various trades and professions. One notable member was Jean Morissette, a merchant and landowner who lived in the late 1300s and was documented in the town's records.

As the name Morissette spread across France, it also underwent various spelling variations, such as Morisset, Morisseau, and Morisseau. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of individual families or scribes.

During the 16th century, the Morissette family gained prominence in the city of Paris, where several members held prominent positions in the legal and administrative fields. One such individual was Pierre Morissette, a renowned lawyer who lived from 1528 to 1603 and served as a legal advisor to the French monarchy.

Another notable figure with the Morissette surname was Jacques Morissette, a French explorer and navigator who lived from 1605 to 1675. He was instrumental in the exploration and mapping of the Caribbean region and is credited with establishing several settlements in the French West Indies.

In the 18th century, the Morissette family produced several influential figures in the arts and literature. One of the most prominent was Marie-Thérèse Morissette, a celebrated painter who lived from 1723 to 1799 and was known for her portraits and landscapes.

As the Morissette name spread beyond France, it also gained a foothold in other parts of Europe and North America, particularly in Canada, where many French settlers established new communities. One notable Canadian bearer of this surname was Joseph Morissette, a politician and businessman who lived from 1853 to 1928 and played a significant role in the development of the city of Montreal.

Overall, the surname Morissette has a rich historical legacy that spans several centuries and encompasses individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, merchants, lawyers, explorers, artists, and politicians. Its origins can be traced back to medieval France, where it emerged as a descriptive nickname before evolving into an inherited surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Morissette

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Morissette.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Morissette was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Morissette has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Morissette was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Morissette, please contact us.

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