Hello there
Morrison (usual spelling) is still a common name in Scotland. The following information is taken from
http://www.electricscotland.com There is a lot more info on the Morrison clan society etc on that site. Another Scottish-based site which might be worth a look is
http://www.rampantscotland.com
Morrison
The Chlann Mhic-Ghille-Mhuire, meaning "Devotee of St. Mary" or Morrison clan is said to be Scandinavian in origin, supposedly descending from the natural son of the King of Norway who was shipwrecked of the shores of Lewis. This is the Morrison clan whereas the Morrisons of the Central Highlands, "sons of Maurice", and the Morrisons who descend from the O'Muirgheasain bards from Ireland who settled in Harris have no connection with the Hebridean clan of Lewis. The Morrison chiefs once held the hereditary office of Brilheanh, brieve or judgement, under the Macleods from whom they held Habost in north Lewis. The first recorded Morrison is Uisdean of Hugh who lived in the 16th century, a contempory of the last Macleod of Lewis, Roderick, who was chief till about 1595. He is said to have incurred their wrath when he betrayed Torquil Dubh Macleod, who was beheaded by the Mackenzies in 1597. The Morrisons consequently had to seek refuge on the mainland and about sixty families of Morrisons are said to have settled in the vicinity of Durness in the Mackay country, accounting for the similarity of the Morrison and Mackay tartans. They lost the hereditary brieveship of Lewis in 1613 when they resisted the takeover by the Mackenzies, and by the 19th century it became impossible to even trace the line. A branch of the clan, the Morrisons in Pabbay of Harris were the hereditary smiths and armourers to the Macleods of Harris. John Morrison of this family was a celebrated poet of the 19th century. The Morrisons of Ruchdi in North Uist are descendants of the Morrisons of Pabbay and on petition of the Lyon Court were reinvested in arms as the chiefs of Clan Morrison.
MORRISON: This name represents three quite different posterities which have all come to be spelled in the same way. Those of Perth and the Lennox were originally 'Sons of Maurice' (Gaelic: Moiris), and are quite distinct from the Morrisons of Lewis and the North-West mainland of Scotland, who appear to be heirs to a double heritage. The Morrisons of Habost held the hereditary office of Brieve (Judge) in Lewis, and were known as the Chlann-na-Britheamh, of whom a Celtic genealogy once proclaimed descent from the O'Muirgheasain bards who came to the Outer Hebrides from Inishowen in Co. Donegal. The more senior line, that of the Morrisons of Ruchdi in North Uist, claim descent from the Morrisons of the Dun of Pabbay who derived their name from the Gaelic Gille-Mhoire (Servant of the Virgin Mary), from which MacGille-Mhoire became the patronymic of the Chief. Little has been preserved of the early history of the Clan, and such practically came to an end at the at the dawn of the 17th century when James VI launched a campaign during which he granted 'letters of Fire and Sword', against the incumbent Brieves and their kin - the office of Brieve does not appear in records after 1616. In consequence, large numbers of Morrisons removed to Sutherland where many settled near Durness in Mackay country. Another line followed the Macleans of Duart. Many of the kindred long settled in Harris had a reputation as smiths or armourers and, it has been said, the last Morrisons on Pabbay were obliged to leave their ancestral lands having been discovered illicitly distilling whisky. A few Morrisons claim an Isle of Skye ancestry. The Morisons of North-east Scotland are quite distinct from the northern line and are represented by Morison of Bognie, Frendraught and Mountblairy.