Norris Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Norris last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Norris last name
Meaning of the Norris last name: northerner, or nurse. Norris is an English name for a northerner, or for a nurse. It is found widely in England. A curious detail: two quite different meanings became the same name over time, so Norris families may have very different roots.
Arms associated with the Norris name
Animals on English shields were chosen for the qualities they stood for, such as the lion for courage, a tradition the Norris name belongs to.
Get your full Norris family history
This is only a glimpse of the Norris story. The full Norris history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Norris coat of arms. Get the full Norris report.
Norris name FAQ
What does the Norris name mean?
Northerner, or nurse. Common variants include Norreys, Northouse, Nurse.
Where does the Norris surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Ireland.
Is there a Norris coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Norris coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.