Meaning: Its source is Maurice, an Old French name meaning "Dark complected."

Narrative: Experts dispute the origins of Maurice. Most commonly derived from the Latin Mauricus (dark complected), some authorities believe its source was the Irish Gaelic Muirgheas, meaning ''seafarer.'' Others trace it to a Phonecian word, mauharim, meaning ''easterner.''

Morris and Morrison probably developed as spellings of the English pronunciation of the French name Maurice. Harris and Harrison are a simmilar case. They developed from Harry, a spelling of English attempts to negotiate the nasal ''en'' and cat-like ''r'' of the French name Henri.