Peter Morffew

Introduction
I have been asked numerous times over the years about the origin of my
name, a question I found difficult to answer.

I have always quoted the surname dictionaries” Morffew arrived in England

with the Norman invasion but was used as a term of abuse by the Crusader
Knights for the Saracens and Muslims.
When I was in the army I was asked if Morffew had any connection with
Morphou Gate in Cyprus, something that always seemed too coincidental.

I started to look at the possible origin of my name, as well as the other

variants like Morphew, Morfew, etc mainly to curb my curiosity and to
understand where it might have originated from.
The information that I have found so far deserves sharing so other Morffew’s
might know the source of their name.

My search for the origin of Morffew and the other variants has included Anglo
Saxon England, the Normans before and after 1066, the Crusades and The
Kingdom of Cyprus.

I would like to thank Peter Edbury of Cardif University for his help and Zoe
Heukels-Morffew and Nils Visser for the work they have done so far on the
Morffew history in their “Preliminaiary Findings Morffew Family History”.

All comments are welcome and can be sent to

peter.wendy@talk21.com

Peter Morffew
July 2010

2
 History of the times
The historical events that have affected the generations of Morffews, and
others was considerable.
Prior to 1066 the tribes in Britain were under constant pressure from invaders
such as the Saxons, Angles and Vikings ( Danes ) to name a few.
After the invasion of England in 1066 some of the barons rebelled and had
their land forfeited. Henry I promoted those of humbler origin to higher office
and some Norman knights fell out of favour.

In the Middle Ages the Black Death killed some 40% of the European
population, there was the 100 years war between France and England and in
England there was the Wars of the Roses.
Not forgetting the Crusades which was the largest migration in the Middle
Ages from Europe to the Holy Land involving about 1,000,000 people.

Large numbers took up the cross and set off for the Holy Land to undertake
their vows.
A Crusade not only involved the knights and the men at arms but the camp
followers, family, fortune seekers and robbers.

Crusaders settled in the Holy Land, Portugal, Spain and in the Kingdom of
Cyprus.

The Crusades were not just confined to the Holy Land. There were Crusades
to Spain and Portugal to fight the Moors which involved a number from
England enroute to the Holy Land.
Also there was the Crusades in Northern Europe. The pagan tribes in
Lithuania and Latvia faced the Crusaders from all over Europe which became
a annual pilgrimage.

Those that embarked on the Crusade were taking on a great risk. It is

estimated that just 25% survived the 3rd Crusade.

There were wars in Italy and the Mongols invaded from the East as far as
Vienna and Poland.

Various military orders such as the Knights Templars, Knights Hospitalers

were formed where individuals served across Europe and the Holy Land.

There were famines across Europe in 1272, 1277, 1283, 1292 and 1311. Also
there was a European wide failed crop and large numbers died as a result.

Later in 1665 there was the great plague which again killed large numbers,
especially in London.

3
With all of this activity impacting on the European population no wonder it is
hard to find where individuals might have originated from . Especially when
individuals and families died enroute to the Holy Land or from the Black Death
and buried in mass graves without any record.

There were opportunities for individuals to travel in the Middle Ages with such
a melting pot of accents and languages names could be mispronounced and
mispelt hence the possible different ways to spell Morffew, Morfou, Morfewe,
etc.

4
 About the Morffew name
The quote below is a general description for the Morffew name.

“Recorded in many forms although all are quite rare, and including Maffie,
Maffey, Maffy, Morfey, Morphey, Morffew, Morphew, Murphew. It is believed
to originate from the pre 7th century word 'malfe' meaning ill-omened, and
used as a term of abuse applied to the devil or an enemy of some sort.
It is said to have been given by the famous Crusader knights of the 12th
century to the Saracens or Muslims in the Holy Land. However the surname
already existed at that time, original name holders having accompanied
William, Duke of Normandy in his Conquest of England in 1066”

Other references in the Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial words dated 1559
”Morphew… A Leprous erution on the face A morpheu or statnying of the
skynne”

Quote 1450 Agnus Castus 125/111

“with pat anoynteth cloth rubbe be Morfu and be place per be zowthis…and
be morfu andbe skurfe schall falle awaey.

Records in England are post the Norman invasion and most are post the First
Crusade such as “Wido Malfeth” in 1130.

The Modern day Morffew seems to have transformed from earlier spellings
prior to the 1500s
Morffew is peculiar to England and of those who migrated from England to the
USA, Canada and Australia.

The 1911 census shows the PH version more prominent out of the various
forms of spelling the name ( 450 ), in the 1911 census there are less than
500 people with the name Morffew, Morfew and Morphew. This is out of a
population of 36 Million.

In the 1911 census there are no returns for the Morfew spelling.
The census of 1841 shows Morffew, Morphew and Morfews mainly in London
and the surrounding counties.
The 1911 census shows that some Morphews had migrated to the Midlands
and North of England but the Morffews has stayed in the London area

The different forms of spelling might have come about because Britain was
involved in several wars in the 1700s.*1 and the individual was on military
service in Europe.
In the 1700s Latin was still used by the Armies of Europe so that Officers of
different nationalities could communicate. Most rank soldiers were illiterate
and could not spell their own name.
Further name changes might have happened during the Napoleonic Wars
when large numbers of British troops served in Spain and France.

5
Today in Europe the name Morfu is found in Spain, Italy, Portugal and
France.
This would indicate that the ‘F’ rather than the ‘PH’ is the original way to spell
the name.
That is if there is any connection with the French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian
and English similar sounding names.
Also there is the Greek name Morfi also found in the US as well as Greece.

All of these names sound similar to the town name, Morphou in Cyprus.
There is a discrepancy whether Morphou should be spelt with a PH or a F.

After the 1600s a lot of Europeans migrated to the New World and today
Morffews and those with similar sounding names can be found in America’s
and Australia.

Looking for references to those with the name Morffew and any variants and
individuals turn up such as the Frenchman , Charles Morfu in 1618 travelled
with the Italian satirist and Canon who had written some poems about the
Pope and his family.
Charles Morfu revealed the indentity of the Canon to would be robbers who
kidnapped him and he was taken to the Papal Palace at Avignon.

Today Morffew has been misspelt in numerous ways and there is no reason
why this should not have been different in previous centuries when the
population was not so literate. We must not forget the name might have an
American spelling connotation where it was misspelt when the person
migrated in previous centuries or acquired an American slant.

Some surname dictionaries refer to the Morphue or Morpheas.

This is a rare skin condition commonly known to day as Localised
Scleroderma.
Morphorea or Morphea is a red or purple blemish or patch that affects 1 in
1,000 people.
There are treaties on how to detect the difference between Bubonic Plague,
Leprosy and Morphorea.
For those with Morphorea instead of Leprosy or Bubonic Plague might have
been referred to as Morfues.

Morphue was used as a insulting term for Saracens and Muslims which
indicates a connection with the Crusades.
The abusive term might have been used for Mercenaries serving in foreign
armies and in the Levant such as the English Free Company based in Pisa
In 1318 Philip V of France considered the Flemish who were French enemies
to be as bad as the Saracens so the Christians could be held in contempt
similarly as the Saracens.

1*The Wars of Spanish Succession in 1700 The War of Austrian Succession 1740, The 1st and 2nd Silesian
War 740-45, The Seven Years War 1756 – 63 the first world war, The American War of Independence and
the French Revolutionary Wars in 1795

6
 Anglo Saxon England
Looking at England prior to the Norman invasion there was the Kingdom of
Hwicce which covered the area of Warwickshire, Worcestershire and
Gloustershire.
The Kingdom of Hwicce came under the rule of Aethelbald, king of the
Mercians and the South Angli.

Aethelbald ruled over a large area that stretched from Staffordshire down to
Oxfordshire and parts of Kent and possibly Essex. Aethelbald is also refered
to as the King of London.

In the Kingdom of Hwicce was the Morfe Forest, also referred to the Great
Morfe Forest.
There is reference to this forest in a charter from Aethelbald to Cyneberht for
10 hides at Ismere by the river Stour and Land at Brochyl in Morfe Forest for
the construction of a minster.
This minster has been thought of as the beginnings of Kidderminster.

Even though Morfe Forest does not exist today there is Morfe Lane and off
this lane is Morfe House Farm and Little Morfe. Leading from Morfe Lane is
Morfe Hall Lane which leads to Morfe Hall Farm.
These are on ordinance survey maps and can be seen on Google Earth.
Also close by is a Essex Wood

In the area of Morfe Lane and what was Morfe Forest are burial mounds that
show a considerable settlement of people.
These people who lived in Morfe Forest might have been referred to as
Morfes or those who are from Morfe.

Aethelbald actively protected his realm and fought in Wessex as well.

Being a king of such a large area the people of Morfe might have travelled
with him and also fought with him.
Aethelbald travelled around his realm to collect taxes and to over see justice.
This would explain the demographic distribution of Morffews from Shropshire
down to Kent.

The Wolverhampton archives and local studies 1851 census street index
shows that there was a place called Morfe, Morfe Farm, Morfe Hall, Morfe
Heath House and Morfe lane. Even though Morfe Forest had been cleared by
1851 the name Morfe showed how prominent this area must have been.

The Google image shows just a few buildings today and this might have been
the result of the industrial revolution when people left the country side to work
in the towns and cities.

7
Morfa in modern Welsh means marsh. This is spelt Morfeydd and would
suggest the name dates back to the Britons and Celts prior to any Anglo
Saxon invasion.
The Briton Celts in this area were displaced by the Anglo Saxons and fled to
Wales and Cornwall.
Later some of these Briton Celts migrated to North West France ( Breton)
and North West Spain ( Gallaecia ) .

Looking at the census from the late 19th century there is not a nucleus of
Morffew’s, Morphews or morfew’s in the area of Morfe Forest.

Ordinance Survey map of Morfe lane and farms

8
Drawn map of Morfe Forest and the
surrounding
surrounding villages dates circ 1500
Note the French way of writing Morfe Forest

9
Map of the Great Forests and Chases in Shropshire

10
 Europe Pre 1066
Prior to the Norman invasion of 1066 the opportunity for European Christians
to come into contact with Muslims was relatively easy.
Muslim invaders ( Moors ) had crossed over to the Iberian Peninsula ( Spain )
and establish a Mulsim state in 600 AD.
The Moors carried out sorties over the Pyrenees into France. These became
so bold that they managed to push the Franks ( French ) as far back as
Poitiers into a small enclave.
The Franks in a concerted effort pushed the Moors out of France and
establish a Christian strip on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees.

The Christians and Moors fought to maintain their states. Many Christian
soldiers and Knights joined the reconquista, a lot of these Knights were
Normans trying to carve out their own state from the wars.

At the same time Western Knights volunteered to serve in the Byzantine

Imperial Army as mercenaries. Again a lot of these Knights were Normans, as
well as Franks and other nationalities.
These western mercenaries fought Muslims, Turks and other invading tribes.

Whilst in the service of the Byzantine Empire some of the western knights
learnt Greek and a few managed to learn Arabic.

Normans who had fought in Italy as mercenaries invaded Sicily, a Muslim

state

Christian Knights in Europe also fought pagans and infidels such as Vikings,
Goths, Saxons, Livs and other European tribes.

The phrase pagans and infidels became a general term used for all enemies
of Christianity at the time and this might have included those who were to be
considered the enemy at that time regardless of their religion.

The opportunity for Morfue to become a derogatory name prior to the 1066
invasion was quite considerable but with so many enemies referred to as
pagans or infidels there should be more people with the name Morffew and its
variants across Europe rather than a few concentrated in England and a few
other countries in Europe.

11
 The Norman invasion 1066
It is considered that the Morffew name in England originates from the
Norman invasion.
Morffew is a French sounding name and it first appears when a knight Mengle
et Maufe is referred to in the Roll at Battel Abbey.
But this name cannot be found on the plaque in the church in Dives-sur-Mer in
Normandy where Williams invading army took mass before sailing for
England.

William the Conqueror’s invasion of England was not just a Norman affair.
William recruited his invading army from Northern Europe and it included
Flemish, Breton and Picardy soldiers and knights. As well as a few Germans
and Danes.
A third of Williams invading army was from Breton who spoke a different
language and still do today.
The various nations in Northern Europe and also the Normans across Europe
knew of the invasion and band’s of soldiers and individuals thronged to
Williams cause in a hope of land and fortune.

The Normans in Italy are of particular interest. These were landless Normans
who travelled south in search of their fortune in 1017.
They hired themselves out as Mercenaries in Italy, in particular to the
Neapolitans who had occasional conflicts with neighbouring states and also
the Muslims in Sicily.
Norman knights even fought against the Papal State and were also hired by
the Pope and given land in reward.
The Normans fought for Naples and were given land in payment for their
services.

When the Normans turned their attention to Sicily in 1060, a Muslim state they
had to rely on the Neapolitans to build the boats to get across to Sicily.
Normans also fought in Spain against the Moors and abusive term Morfue
could have been in general use by 1066.

The Normans would not have been able to build the alleged 3000 boats for
the invasion of England themselves and must have had help from other skilled
boat builders from across Europe.

Having built these boats their skills might have been used to construct the
forts erected almost over night across the south of England to establish their
hold on the English population. William had the boats holed to prevent any
desertion

William imposed his rule with a scorched earth policy from the first day he
landed and as he advanced on London his army burnt crops, destroyed
villages and killed the inhabitants. Those that survived must have fled to the
forests.

12
Looking at Norman, Flemish, Picardy and Breton names none seem to sound
similar to Morffew.
Normans tended to adapt their name to the area they controlled, ruled or lived
in.
The Normans would have changed their names once they arrived in England
making it difficult to trace any relation they might have had in Normandy or
any where else in Europe.

When looking at names sounding similar to their trades or craft the only one
could be similar is the fort builders.
The Norman forts were build on a mound which had to be constructed.
These mounds were called Motte which the word moat is derived from this.
The people who designed Motte might have been named after their trade and
a modern name similar to Motte is Mowat.

After the Normans invaded the Domesday Book was compiled, a list of the
land in England and people who owned it.

The Domesday book does not seem to list any name similar to Morffew but
there is a Ansculf de Pencheny ( Ausculph of Picquisgny ), a Picardy
adventurer who was granted lordships in various counties*2. One of note is
Staffordshire where there is a Morfe House Farm, Morfe Hall farm and Little
Morfe all off Morfe lane.
Also close by was the Morfe Forest. This Forest had become mooreland by
1700
Morfe Forest became a Medieval Royal Forest in East Shropshire.
At its core was a wood that stretched from Bridgnorth to Six Ashes ( Near
Enville ) and Claverley.
The forest was preambled in 1300 and the boundary recorded.

Once William had invaded England the Bretons settled in East Anglia, Suffolk,
Northumbria( Richmond) and the west country ( Devon, Cornwall, Wessex ).
Two of these regions ( East Anglia and Suffolk ) had a concentration of
Morffews in the 1841 census.

In 1076 Bretons in East Anglia rebelled against Williams rule and they
forfeited their land and some were executed. Their land was redistributed to
those more faithful
It could be possible these knights were taken off the rolls at Battel Abbey.

One thing all of these invaders from Northern Europe had in common was
they spoke French, or would have had to speak French to understand the
commands given.
Taking control of England the Normans dictated that French would be the
lingua franca of the courts and administration.
French stayed in use for a number of centuries in England, even Henry 1st
and Richard 1st spoke French and was related to French nobility in the Holy
Land.

13
Because French was used by the nobility it can be assumed that French
generic terms were used such as when using abusive language as well as
place names taking on a French sound.

*2 Warwickshire, Berkshire, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Huntingdonshire,

Cambridgeshire, Surrey, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Staffordshire
and Worcestershire.

14
 Crusades
Crusades
First Crusade1095

Just 29 years after Williams invasion of England the First Crusade set off for
the Levant
Some of the Crusaders in 1095 were sons of the Normans who came across
in 1066. One such crusader was the son of Geoffrey I Boterel, Conan who
was killed in 1098.

The first Crusade records a Morphoria of Melitene .

Morphoria of Melitene was a Armenian Princess who married Baldwin II and

became Queen of Jerusalem. Baldwin II title was King off Jerusalem but with
the Saracens occupying Jerusalem he could not exercise his authority over
the city.
The First Crusades comprised of Franks ( French ), Germans and Spanish
troops and a few English, this was a French lead expedition and French
became the language for the Crusades.

The Crusaders arrived in Constantinople and their first mission was to relieve
Edessa which they did with ease. Then they took Jerusalem.
Prior to this a group of 9 French Knights met with Baldwin II to offer their
services to escort pilgrims around the Levant ( Holy Land ). Baldwin II gave
his blessing as did the Pope.
Born were the Knights Templars. Knights Templars were recruited from all
over Europe over the next few years.

The 9 Knights took up residency in Jerusalem in the Temple of the Mount.

Close by Morphoria of Melitene took up residency.

After taking Jerusalem Crusaders settled in the Levant ( Holy Land )

establishing Christian rule in Palestine.
Crusaders and Christians lived cheek by jowl with the Muslims and other
indigenous groups in the Levant.
The Crusaders adopted some of the local customs and dress and they could
have been termed as going native.

The Crusaders built towns and castles and established new communities.
The Crusaders even intermarried into local indigenous communities.
The intermarried off spring might have had a more Arab or Mediterranean skin
tone which attracted the abusive phrase “ Morphue “ which became a
Crusader racist phrase.

15
There is a reference to a “Wido Malpeth in 1130 who it is alleged was married
to “Tower Malpeth “ who had some connection with the Tower of London.
The stone for the Tower of London was transported from France.
Being connected with such a prominent land mark Tower Malfeth might have
been asked to travel on the First Crusade to help build new or improve castles
in the Holy Land.
Wido Malpeth might have been mentioned as a person of some standing, i.e.
owning land because she would possibly have inherited the land left by her
husband if he died on the Crusades.

Second Crusade 1147

On the Second Crusade, One of the largest armies assembled at any time in
Europe was divided into three units. The French and German columns
marched across Europe into Byzantium. The third unit, a naval one set out
from English ports which comprised of Flemish, Bretons and English ships
and troops.
The English force was large and some had experience of fighting in the
Iberian Peninsula.
These English Crusaders came from East Anglia, Kent, London and Cornwall.

On route to the Holy Land this naval force stopped to capture Lisbon in
Portugal.
The siege lasted from May to October with the Crusaders prevailing.
Some of the English contingent settled in Lisbon.
After this English were actively encouraged to settle in Portugal by Alfonso 1
and large numbers of English migrated to Portugal to help fight the Moors.

After Lisbon the naval force sailed to Catalonia and capture Tortosa and again
some of the English Crusaders settled here and became wealthy.

There is a interesting correlation between the counties the English soldiers

and Sailors came from and the geographic distribution of Morffews, Morfews
and Morphews in England. The 1841 census shows the same counties where
soldiers and sailors embarked on the 2nd Crusade also have the name
Morffew, Morphew and Morfew.

16
 Third Crusade 1190 - 1191
The Third Crusade saw large numbers of English embark for the Holy Land.
Richard 1st had huge funds and hired large numbers of troops from England
and in the Holy Land.
Richard also had his own fleet which enabled him to invade Cyprus.
There does not seem to be any reason why the English might have acquired
the name Morffew.
As a result of the Third Crusade the Kingdom of Cyprus was established and
some English soldiers might have been recruited to serve here rather than
return to England.

Fourth Crusade 1203

The fourth Crusade did not have any significant numbers of English. This was
mainly a French Crusade which instead of sailing to the Holy Land went
straight to Constantinople and laid siege to it.
Even though the Pope was angered at this the Fourth Crusade set a trend for
future Crusades where large number of Mercenaries were employed.

17
 The Kingdom of Cyprus
Whilst Googling the name Morphou I
came across a Jean De Morphou,
1330 – 1385.
He was the richest Baron in the Kingdom of
Cyprus.
His daughter married Hughue, The King of
Jerusalem and Cyprus

Jean de Morphou’s full title was Jean de

Morpho Count of Edessa and Rochas,
Marshall of Cyprus and married to Echiva.
The Marshall of Cyprus was responsible for
the Kingdom of Cyprus mercenaries in battle.

The Morpho Baronage coat of arms was a Black

Lion on a yellow back ground, ( Lion Argent shield Or )
Which dates back to the early 1300s.

Jean De Morphou is also alleged to have had a affair

Morphou coat of Arms
with Eleanor Queen of Avignon making him possibly
very well connected.

Jean De Morphou served with distinction in Alexandria on the 1365 Crusade.

Jean De Morphou was a chief negotiator for the Cypriots when they rebelled
in Cyprus which makes him prominent in the local politics of Cyprus at the
time.

According to Lenitos Makkarias he was corrupted by the

Genoese by a offer to help his son in law Hughue of Lusignan
take over the Kingdom of Cyprus.

Jean de Morphou did not have any male heirs and so the direct line died with
him.
Hughe and Marie did not have any children and it seems that the Morphou
line died out.

Even though counties and cities in the Levant were lost to the Saracens titles
referring to these lost Regions were still handed on by the King of Cyprus
In recognition of service.
Knights and lesser men had titles indicative of their ancestry such as Thomas
of Picquigny and James of Fleury were refered to as knights of Acre and
Peter Le Jaune was described as a Knight of Tripoli in late 1323.
There is no reason why this tradition did not carry on with knights and lesser
men adopting titles connected with the Kingdom Cyprus such as Morphou
and the nobility in the Kingdom like Jean de Morphou.

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The first record of de Morphou is in early 13th century. A Lawrence de Plessy
was knighted at Morphou and adopted the title de Morphou as well as his
descendants.

Lawrence de Plessy was from a English crusading family and includes Hugh
and Richard de Plessy.
Richard de Plessy was the royal keeper of parks.
The de Plessy linage came with William Duke of Normandy in 1066.

* * * * *

The Kingdom of Cyprus came about when Richard 1st invaded Cyprus but
did not want to the trouble of ruling a country whilst on campaign
so he sold Cyprus to the Knights Templar’s.
The Templar’s could not control the local population after they revolted
against the Templar’s treatment.

The Templars gave Cyprus back to Richard and he passed Cyprus onto Guy
de Lusignan.
Guy de Lusignan was related to Richard who was a Crusader nobleman from
the 1st Crusade.

Guy invited Franks and Crusaders who left the Levant ( The Holy Land ) after
the Saracens invaded to settle in Cyprus. The Franks were given land and
owed allegiance to the King of Cyprus.
This established the Kingdom of Cyprus as a Crusader nation where
Crusaders could rally and set off on future Crusades.

Because the Franks ( French) were the nobility in the Kingdom of Cyprus
French was the lingua franca of the courts and records.
Later Greek and Italian was used for recording of tax where Greek for the
indigenous Cypriots, Italian for the Neopolitan, Venetian and Genoan
merchants.
It was even suggested that all Crusades should be lead by a French
nobleman.

The population of Cyprus initially was the indigenous Greeks and those who
had to leave the mainland as cities and castles fell to the Turks and Saracens.
These were mainly French ( Franks ), Italians and Spanish.

Over the next century the Cypriot population increased and became very
cosmopolitan.
The population comprised of Franks ( French ) who were the nobility in the
Kingdom of Cyprus. Germans, Italians, Spanish, Portuguese, Syrians,
Maronites, Ethiopians, Indians, Georgians, some English, Venetians,
Genoese, Burgandians and the indigenous Greeks. Also there were the
Knights Templars and Hospitalers.
Some of these would have been in the employ and service of Jean De
Morphou.

19
When future Crusades were launched such as the seventh Crusade under
Peter 1 the population increased because of the influx of Mercenaries and
Crusaders from all over Europe where Peter 1 had spent three years
recruiting.
This army comprised of Templars, Hospitalers, English archers, Italian
Crossbowmen
and French men at arms. As well as Knights from Europe.
There was also the New Holy Order of the Sword, a mercenary force specific
for the recapture of Jerusalem.
When the Turks invaded Armenia, a territory associated with the Kingdom of
Cyprus the rich Armenians fled to Cyprus increasing the population further.

When we talk about the Crusaders we must not forget the camp followers and
also the families. People who settled in the Holy Land and Cyprus would
have had children who would not have known any other life.

As well as the Military side of Kingdom of Cyprus life the commerce and trade
was busy.
Cyprus was a major producer and exporter of Sugar and Cotton.
These commodities were in great demand across Europe and also for the
Crusaders who would stop off in Cyprus for supplies.
Sugar helped to make the Kingdom of Cyprus one of the richest countries in
the Middle Ages Europe.
The sugar was formed into a distinctive hat shape which might have been
referred to a Morphou sugar when other regions started to produce more
refined sugar.

The French Kingdom of Cyprus ended when the Genoans took control and
the Frank ( French) land was redistributed. The Genoans would have hired
the mercenaries to defend their new territory.
The Genoan reign was short lived when the Turks capture Cyprus and all land
was lost by the Christians and redistributed to the invading Turks.

Morphou and the Morphou region in Cyprus

20
 Final thoughts
Google the name Morffew, Morfew or Morphew and the search includes UK,
America, Australia and Canada.
The Name Morfu shows a predominance for Spain and Italy, along with some
in France, Portugal and South American Spanish speaking countries.
Morfi is found in Greece and the US. All of these names are rare.

This begs the question how can so many people from various nations around
the world have a similar sounding name as the town of Morphou in Cyprus
which was the title of one of the most prominent Barons in the Kingdom of
Cyprus on the 1365 Crusade.
Cyprus being a centre for Crusades in the Middle Ages where people from all
Christian nations flocked.

Morffew is a French, Frank sounding name which was the language of the
Kingdom of Cyprus whilst the Franks ruled.

Looking at the online database for the English who served in the Hundred
Years War there is no record of any Morffews or any name that sounds
similar. This would possibly indicate the name Morffew and any variant might
be post Hundred Years War when English soldiers were hired across Europe
in Italy, Burgandy and in the Kingdom of Cyprus especially for the attack on
Alexandra in Egypt.
The tradition of adopting the name or title of the baron or town within the
Kingdom of Cyprus after a successful campaign would have been keenly
taken up.

If the name Morffew is associated with the term for a blemish which affects
1/1000 there would surely be more Morffews than just the few in the 1841
census..

The name Morffew and those names that sound similar originate from the
countries that went on the Crusades and individuals volunteered to fight for
the Kingdom of Cyprus especially on the 1365 Crusade.

This could be for several reasons. They had a bad reputation, on the 1365
Crusade the troops were more concerned with looting what they could and
massacred the Muslims.
But as Jean De Morphou served with distinction it could be that the
mercenaries he commanded did such good service themselves the Morphou
title was used as a compliment.
On returning back to Europe the mercenaries adopted this title for
themselves out of pride or even given the title when they gave a reference to
successful campaigns and service.
The 7th Crusade was seen as a success across Europe in the courts and with
the Pope.
Locally it was a disaster because it affected the trade in Cyprus.

21
The alternative reason for the Morphue name is that Morphue being a
derogatory term for the Saracens and Muslims. The mercenaries serving in
the Kingdom of Cyprus might have had a bad reputation and attracted this
term.
On returning home to their various countries they would have been tarred with
this name and have been called Morfue ever since.

In 1363 Urban V addressed an appeal to the free companies of mercenaries

in the Midi saying “ members of free companies had the most dreadful need to
absolution because they had used their arms against Christians”.

The mercenaries, The routiers were hated not simply because of their skill in
war, but also for their cruelty and lack of respect for many of the conventions
of a Christian society. They were ‘shamelessly guilty of murder and pillage
and various abominations’. Many of them were younger sons, some
illegitimate, impoverished figures on the fringes of society. They were
condemned in the Third Lateran Council of 1179.
In Italy the wealthier cities began to stiffen their militia forces with hired
professional soldiers. In 1277 Florence was even employing a hundred
English troops

We must not forget that the Frank Barons in the Kingdom of Cyprus were not
happy with the way Peter 1st gave favour to the mercenaries he recruited. This
resulted in his assassination.
It might be just a term for the English mercenaries serving in the Levant and in
the foreign service such a the English free company in Pisa.
English mercenaries had gained a reputation in battle partly from the 100
Years War.
When England was forced out of France there were thousands of unemployed
soldiers especially archers. They were snapped up by the nobility of Spain,
Italy and Burgundy to name a few.
Notably English Mercenaries serving with Bernado Visconti had spent several
years fighting for various factions in Italy. Including for and against the Pope.
Some of these English mercenaries would have settled in countries they
served in and there ancestors are now called Morfu.

There does not seem to be any correlation between the Forest of Morfe and
the name Morffew. In the 1800s most Morffews lived in the South especially in
the London area.

This work is not finished and the search goes on for the possible source of the
name Morffew.
It seems that maybe by looking at the Crusades and the Kingdom of Cyprus
we might have metaphorically come face to face with our ancestors.

22
 Morffew demographics in England
Looking at the data base on line listing the English who served in the 100
years war there is no name like Morffew.

There is a interesting correlation with those who went on the 2nd Crusade and
the counties that Morffews, Morfew and Morphews appear in the 1841
census

The English census prior to 1900 shows that Morffew and Morphew in
England and Wales is not a common name.
The name is not common in the United States either.
The census figures below show the numbers returned from the Federal
Census of 1830 to 1930.
Morphew
1830 = 5, 1850 = 56, 1860 = 91, 1870 = 119, 1880 = 128, 1900 = 331,
1910 = 379, 1920 = 516, 1930 = 598.

Morffew shows three records over this whole period.

The records do not show a mass exodus to America in the 19th century. There
is a steady growth in the Morffew, Morfew and Morphew population.

Murphew seems to be a corruption of the Morffew name. It does not appear in

England and Wales census records before 1900

Prior to 1900 there are no records for Morffew or Morphew in Australia,

Canada or New Zealand.

Looking at the Morfu name in Portugal, Spain, France and Italy there are very
few which would indicate again a rare name.
It is equally rare in South America with most in Argentina and Brazil. This
would indicate a possible later migration in the 20th century rather than in the
19th century.

23
 A list of Census records showing
Morffew, Morphew and Morfew

Morffew in the 1911 Census

Institution,
Household Birth Registration
or Vessel Name Year Age Sex District County
Household MORFFEW, Clara Ann 1870 41 F Aston Warwickshire
Household MORFFEW, Elizabeth 1874 37 F Richmond Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Emma 1855 56 F Paddington London
Household MORFFEW, Emma 1879 32 F Chelsea London
Household MORFFEW, Emma 1908 3 F Chelsea London
Household MORFFEW, Emma Alice 1859 52 F Reading Berkshire
Household MORFFEW, Frances 1866 45 F St George London
Household MORFFEW, Frederick 1911 0 M Chelsea London
Household MORFFEW, Frederick George 1880 31 M Richmond Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Frederick Robert 1906 5 M Richmond Surrey
Household MORFFEW, George 1856 55 M Paddington London
Household MORFFEW, George 1906 5 M Chelsea London
Household MORFFEW, George 1887 24 M Chelsea London
Household MORFFEW, George Henry 1890 21 M Hackney London
Household MORFFEW, Harriet 1851 60 F Chelsea London
Household MORFFEW, Helen Moore 1874 37 F Fulham London
Household MORFFEW, Henry 1846 65 M Chelsea London
Household MORFFEW, Henry 1902 9 M Chelsea London
Household MORFFEW, Henry J 1877 34 M Chelsea London
Household MORFFEW, Isabella Ann 1849 62 F Edmonton Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, Ivy Mary 1901 10 F Fulham London
Household MORFFEW, James 1860 51 M Aston Warwickshire
Household MORFFEW, James William 1888 23 M Aston Warwickshire
Household MORFFEW, Jane 1854 57 F Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Kathleen 1886 25 F Paddington London
Household MORFFEW, Kim Alice Louisa 1911 0 F Chelsea London
Household MORFFEW, Lilian 1882 29 F Paddington London
Household MORFFEW, Nellie 1889 22 F Chelsea London
Household MORFFEW, Robert 1856 55 M Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Robert Samuel 1881 30 M Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Rose 1893 18 F Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Rose 1889 22 F Brentford Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, Thomas 1878 33 M Fulham London
Household MORFFEW, Vilalet 1885 26 F Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Walter William 1885 26 M Paddington London
Household MORFFEW, William Keats 1899 12 M Edmonton Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, Willie 1895 16 M Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Winnifeed Phoebe 1902 9 F Fulham London

24
 Morffew in 1871 census

Institution,
Household Birth Registration
or Vessel Name Year Age Sex District County
London,
Household MORFFEW, Alice 1857 14 F Chelsea
Middlesex
London,
Household MORFFEW, Ann 1825 46 F Chelsea
Middlesex
London,
Household MORFFEW, Annie 1853 18 F Chelsea
Middlesex
London,
Household MORFFEW, Eliza 1868 3 F Chelsea
Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, Elizabeth 1850 21 F Reading Berkshire
London,
Household MORFFEW, Emily 1860 11 F Chelsea
Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, Emma A 1859 12 F Reading Berkshire
Household MORFFEW, Fanny E 1866 5 F Reading Berkshire
Household MORFFEW, George 1856 15 M Reading Berkshire
London,
Household MORFFEW, Henry 1821 50 M Chelsea
Middlesex
London,
Household MORFFEW, Henry 1846 25 M Chelsea
Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, Henry W 1854 17 M Reading Berkshire
Household MORFFEW, Louisa M 1862 9 F Reading Berkshire
Household MORFFEW, Mary A 1822 49 F Reading Berkshire
London,
Household MORFFEW, Mary Ann 1859 12 F Chelsea
Middlesex
London,
Household MORFFEW, Sarah 1862 9 F Chelsea
Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, William J 1820 51 M Reading Berkshire

Institution,
Household Birth Registration
or Vessel Name Year Age Sex District County
Household MORFFEW, Anna M 1850 1 F Westminster Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, Elizabeth 1798 53 F Westminster Middlesex
Saint
Household MORFFEW, Elizabeth 1850 1 F George in Middlesex
the East
Household MORFFEW, Emma 1846 5 F Westminster Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, Henry 1794 57 M Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Jane 1843 8 F Westminster Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, Maria 1835 16 F Westminster Middlesex
Saint
Household MORFFEW, Mary Ann 1824 27 F George in Middlesex
the East
Household MORFFEW, Robert 1833 18 M Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Sarah 1797 54 F Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Thomas 1794 57 M Westminster Middlesex
Saint
Household MORFFEW, William 1820 31 M Middlesex
George in

25
 Morffew in 1841 census
Institution,
Household Birth Registration
or Vessel Name Year Age Sex District County
Household MORFFEW, Elizabeth 1796 45 F Holborn Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, George 1826 15 M Holborn Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, Hannah 1826 15 F Holborn Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, Harriett 1826 15 F Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Henry 1796 45 M Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Henry 1821 20 M Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, James 1828 13 M Holborn Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, Robert 1834 7 M Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, Sarah 1796 45 F Kingston Surrey
Household MORFFEW, William 1791 50 M Holborn Middlesex
Household MORFFEW, William 1821 20 M Holborn Middlesex

1911 Census shows a record of 450 Morphews spread across the UK.
Morphews in 1911 are predominant in and around London but some are in the
Midland and North of England.

26
 Morphew in 1841 Census
Institution,
Household Birth Registration
or Vessel Name Year Age Sex District County
Household MORPHEW, Adelaide 1833 8 F Ipswich Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, Ann 1776 65 F Reigate Surrey
Gravesend &
Household MORPHEW, Ann 1829 12 F Kent
Milton
Household MORPHEW, Ann 1801 40 F Malling Kent
Household MORPHEW, Ann 1834 7 F Malling Kent
Household MORPHEW, Ann 1824 17 F Maidstone Kent
Household MORPHEW, Ann 1796 45 F Dover Kent
Household MORPHEW, Annette 1838 3 F Wisbech Norfolk
Household MORPHEW, Augusta 1837 4 F Malling Kent
Household MORPHEW, Augustus 1834 7 M Maidstone Kent
Falmouth
Household MORPHEW, Caroline 1821 20 F Cornwall
Union
Falmouth
Household MORPHEW, Catherine 1791 50 F Cornwall
Union
Household MORPHEW, Catherine 1840 1 F Droxford Hampshire
Household MORPHEW, Charles 1828 13 M Ipswich Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, Charles 1840 1 M Sevenoaks Kent
Household MORPHEW, Charlotte 1806 35 F Stepney Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, David 1806 35 M Droxford Hampshire
Household MORPHEW, Edward 1772 69 M Epsom Surrey
Household MORPHEW, Edward 1806 35 M Whitechapel Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, Edward 1826 15 M Malling Kent
Household MORPHEW, Edward 1801 40 M Malling Kent
Household MORPHEW, Edwin 1834 7 M Maidstone Kent
Household MORPHEW, Eleanor 1832 9 F Malling Kent
Household MORPHEW, Eliza 1826 15 F Ipswich Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, Eliza 1814 27 F Epsom Surrey
Lewes Chailey
Household MORPHEW, Eliza 1835 6 F West Firle & Sussex
Newhaven
Bosmere &
Household MORPHEW, Elizabeth 1801 40 F Suffolk
Claydon
Household MORPHEW, Elizabeth 1811 30 F Ipswich Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, Elizabeth 1836 5 F Ipswich Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, Elizabeth 1828 13 F Stepney Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, Elizabeth 1801 40 F Ashford, East Kent
Household MORPHEW, Elizabeth 1826 15 F Sevenoaks Kent
Grinstead,
Household MORPHEW, Elizabeth 1811 30 F Sussex
East
Grinstead,
Household MORPHEW, Elizabeth 1832 9 F Sussex
East
Household MORPHEW, Elizabeth 1838 3 F Brighton Sussex
Bosmere &
Household MORPHEW, Emma 1816 25 F Suffolk
Claydon
Household MORPHEW, Fanny 1811 30 F Epping Essex
Household MORPHEW, Frances 1830 11 F Stepney Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, Francis* 1816 25 M Derby, West Lancashire
Lewes Chailey
Household MORPHEW, Frederic 1830 11 M Sussex
West Firle &

27
 Newhaven
Grinstead,
Household MORPHEW, Frederick 1837 4 M Sussex
East
Grinstead,
Household MORPHEW, Geo 1816 25 M Sussex
East
St George
Household MORPHEW, George 1801 40 M Hanover Middlesex
Square
Grinstead,
Household MORPHEW, George 1810 31 M Sussex
East
Grinstead,
Household MORPHEW, George 1833 8 M Sussex
East
Grinstead,
Household MORPHEW, George 1829 12 M Sussex
East
Lewes Chailey
Household MORPHEW, George 1838 3 M West Firle & Sussex
Newhaven
Household MORPHEW, Hannah 1830 11 F Ipswich Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, Hannah 1806 35 F Ipswich Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, Hariot 1806 35 F Whitechapel Middlesex

Household MORPHEW, Henry 1839 2 M Ipswich Suffolk

Household MORPHEW, Humphry 1829 12 M Whitechapel Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, James 1838 3 M Bosmere & Claydon Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, James 1801 40 M Ipswich Suffolk
St George Hanover
Household MORPHEW, James 1805 36 M Middlesex
Square
Household MORPHEW, James 1811 30 M Reading Berkshire
Household MORPHEW, James 1836 5 M Gravesend & Milton Kent
Household MORPHEW, James 1827 14 M Maidstone Kent
Household MORPHEW, Jane 1785 56 F Epsom Surrey
Household MORPHEW, Jane 1826 15 F Richmond Yorkshire
Household MORPHEW, Jane 1821 20 F Greenwich Kent
Household MORPHEW, Jeffery 1821 20 M Falmouth Union Cornwall
Household MORPHEW, Jeffery 1831 10 M Winchester & Hursley Hampshire
Household MORPHEW, Jeffery 1801 40 M Ashford, East Kent
Household MORPHEW, Jemmima 1837 4 F Epsom Surrey
Household MORPHEW, John 1806 35 M Wisbech Norfolk
Household MORPHEW, John 1834 7 M Wisbech Norfolk
Household MORPHEW, John 1837 4 M Great Yarmouth Norfolk
Household MORPHEW, John 1835 6 M Billericay Essex
Household MORPHEW, John 1833 8 M Ipswich Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, John 1834 7 M Ipswich Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, John 1800 41 M Guildford Surrey
Household MORPHEW, John 1791 50 M Shoreditch Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, John 1804 37 M Stepney Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, John 1801 40 M Stepney Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, John 1821 20 M Richmond Yorkshire
Household MORPHEW, John 1770 71 M Tonbridge Kent
Household MORPHEW, John 1825 16 M Elham Kent
Lewes Chailey West Firle
Household MORPHEW, John 1801 40 M Sussex
& Newhaven
Lewes Chailey West Firle
Household MORPHEW, John 1832 9 M Sussex
& Newhaven
Household MORPHEW, Joseph 1806 35 M Bosmere & Claydon Suffolk

28
Household MORPHEW, Joseph 1814 27 M Gainsborough Lincolnshire
Household MORPHEW, Joseph 1781 60 M Falmouth Union Cornwall
Household MORPHEW, Julia 1838 3 F Stepney Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, Louisa 1830 11 F Ipswich Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, Margaret 1833 8 F Droxford Hampshire
Household MORPHEW, Margaret 1834 7 F Grinstead, East Sussex
Household MORPHEW, Marion 1837 4 F Sevenoaks Kent
Household MORPHEW, Mary 1806 35 F Wisbech Norfolk
Household MORPHEW, Mary 1829 12 F Wisbech Norfolk
Household MORPHEW, Mary 1766 75 F Bosmere & Claydon Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, Mary 1801 40 F Ipswich Suffolk
Household MORPHEW, Mary 1812 29 F Kingston Surrey
Household MORPHEW, Mary 1771 70 F St Pancras Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, Mary 1807 34 F Stepney Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, Mary 1830 11 F Stepney Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, Mary 1796 45 F Whitechapel Middlesex
Household MORPHEW, Mary 1796 45 F Richmond Yorkshire
Household MORPHEW, Mary 1831 10 F Richmond Yorkshire
Household MORPHEW, Mary 1821 20 F Reading Berkshire

1911 census shows no Morfew

Morfew in 1841 census

Household MORFEW, Elizabeth 1811 30 F Bosmere & Claydon Suffolk
Household MORFEW, Emma 1829 12 F Bosmere & Claydon Suffolk
Household MORFEW, John 1806 35 M Bosmere & Claydon Suffolk

29
 Bibliography
Gods War
Christopher Tyerman

Cyprus: society and culture 1191-1374

By Angel Nikolaou-Konnarē, Christopher David Schabel

The crusades: a history

By Jonathan Riley-Smith

The Crusades and the military orders: expanding the frontiers of

medieval ...

By Zsolt Hunyadi, József Laszlovszky, Central European University. Dept. of Medieval

Studies

The Medieval Kingdoms of Cyprus and Armenia

By William Stubbs

The Crusades A History of armed pilgrimage and holy war

Geoffrey Hindley

Larousse Encyclopaedia of Ancient and Medieval History

The Black Death

Philip Ziegler

Dictionary of English Surnames

Paper : The Bretons and Normans in England in1066-1154.

The family fief and the feudal monarchy
KSB Keats - Rohan

The debate of the Norman Conquest

Marjorie Chibnall Manchester University Pre

30
 Internet resource
A History of Cyprus
http://www.kypros.org/Sxetikos/Library/ByzantineChurches/AHistoryofCyprus-5.htm

Merriam-Webster
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cotton

Catholic Encyclopedia
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04543c.htm

Morffew Family History

http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/edkins/others/morffew.htm

Zoe Heukels-Morffew & Nils Visser, Huizen, The Netherlands.

http://morpheweb.com/morffew/morffewpartonetext.doc

Georgia health info

http://georgiahealth.info.gov/cms/root

Cyprus
http://fmg.ac/Projects/Medlands/Cyprus /

Full name directory

http://www.fullnamedirectory.com/page232618.html

Planet Murphy
A web site with a lot of information about the Morffew’s and Morphew’s in America.
http:/www.planetmurphy.org/

31