This unusual and interesting name has two possible origins, the first of which is from a medieval personal name, "Morel", a diminutive form of "More". This itself derives from a nickname for someone of a swarthy complexion and was borne by several early saints. It was introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066. The second possible derivation is from a medieval topographical surname, "Morhall", which means "one who lives at the hall on the moor". The derivation is from the Old English pre 7th Century "mor", moor or waste upland, fen, with "hall" or "haell", a residence, manorhouse or hall. The modern surname can be found as Morral, Morrhall, Morrill and Marrel. The marriage of John Marrill and Penelope Risbey was recorded at St. Katharine's by the Tower, London, on October 1684. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gilbert de Morhalle, which was dated 1332, The Lancashire Subsidy Rolls, during the reign of King Edward 111, "Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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