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Origins of the Norris surname

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What does the name Norris mean?

The origin of the Norris surname is English, with Anglo-Norman roots. There are two main hypothesised sources of the name. Firstly it is thought to be a descriptive term relating to anyone who comes from the North ('Nourse' or 'Noreis') and their lineage. It could also be an occupational name from the Middle English 'Norice' and refer to someone who undertook the duties of a nurse and their descendants.

Alternative variations of the name Norris

Norris, Noris, Norries, Norrise, Norise

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Where do most Norrises live?

In 1921, most Norrises lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Norrises

How common is your surname?

286th most common surname in the UK

We have 131,000 records for the Norris surname. The oldest one dates back to 1538.

Who were Norrises most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Johnsons

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Norrises.

What are the most common Norris first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Norris family members

Common jobs for Norrises

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Norrises in 1921
Dressmaker

544

Laundress

463

Cotton Weaver

460

Domestic Servant

317

General Servant Domestic

301

Common Male occupations for Norrises in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

559

General Labourer

541

Carpenter

374

Farm Labourer

357

Bricklayer

332

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We found over 170,000 family trees with the Norris surname

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