Contents [hide]

Murdoch History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Sources

Murdoch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

Etymology of Murdoch

What does the name Murdoch mean?

Originally, Murdoch was a nickname for a person associated with the sea. The name Murdoch derives from one of two Gaelic names which have become indistinguishable from each other. The first of these, Muireach, means belonging to the sea or a mariner. The second name is Murchadh, which means sea warrior. 1

Early Origins of the Murdoch family

The surname Murdoch was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat from early times.

"Murdac was Dean of Appleby, Westmorland, 1175. Walter Murdac, Morthaich, or Murdoch was a person of prominence in the reign of William the Lion and figures as witness in several charters and other Murthacs or Murdaks are mentioned about the same time and in the following century. Murdoch, second duke of Albany, executed in 1425, is referred to in English records as: Mordac, Mordake, Mordik, Mordoc, Mordok, Mordyk, Moreduc, Mourdac, and Murthak. William Murdoch (1754-1839), inventor of gas-lighting, was proclaimed a deity by Nassred-din, Shah of Persia, who believed him to be a re-incarnation of Merodach or Marduk, 'god of light.' " 1

In England, "Robert filius Murdac, and ' one Meurdoch ' occur in Domesday [Book of 1086.]" 2 Another source notes that in Yorkshire, "Murdac, Murdoc, Meurdoch were all listed in the Domesday Book. And this source notes the name was "introduced into Yorkshire before the Conquest by Norwegians from Ireland." 3

In early rolls the name appeared as a forename and surname: Mariedoc Bohhan in the Pipe Rolls for Shropshire in 1160; Geoffrey Murdac in the Pipe Rolls for Yorkshire in 1130; Roger Murdac in the Pipe Rolls for Staffordshire in 1182; Ralph Murdac in Derbyshire in 1197; Sibilla Murdac in the Pipe Rolls for Gloucestershire in 1199; and Nicholas Murdoc in Berkshire. 3

Another source confirms that Murdac, was Dean of Appleby, 32 Henry II (during the 32nd year of King Henry III's reign) 4 and Murdac de Gunton was listed in Warwickshire and Leicestershire, Henry III-Edward I 5

Early History of the Murdoch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Murdoch research. Another 160 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1175, 1214, 1296, 1420, 1680 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Murdoch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Murdoch Spelling Variations

Spelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. Murdoch has appeared in various documents spelled Murdock, Murdoch, Murtoch, Murtough and others.

Early Notables of the Murdoch family

More information is included under the topic Early Murdoch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Murdoch World Ranking

In the United States, the name Murdoch is the 7,315^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6 However, in Australia, the name Murdoch is ranked the 639^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,091 people with that name. 7 And in New Zealand, the name Murdoch is the 383^rd popular surname with an estimated 1,690 people with that name. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Murdoch as 888^th with 7,724 people. 9

Migration of the Murdoch family to Ireland

Some of the Murdoch family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Murdoch migration to the United States +

Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Murdoch, or a variant listed above:

Murdoch Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Murdoch, who settled in New England in 1718
Robert Murdoch, who settled in New Hampshire in 1718
John Murdoch, who settled in North Carolina in 1774
John Murdoch, aged 17, who arrived in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 10
Archibald Murdoch, aged 17, who landed in New York, NY in 1774 10

Murdoch Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Sarah Murdoch, who landed in America in 1805 10
Thomas Murdoch, aged 8, who arrived in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1805 10
Thomas Murdoch, who landed in America in 1805 10
Margaret Murdoch, aged 10, who landed in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1805 10
Alexander Murdoch, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1811 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Murdoch migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Murdoch Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Murdoch, aged 22, a weaver, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eweretta" in 1833

Murdoch migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Murdoch Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Murdoch, a weaver, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
George Murdoch, a carpenter, who arrived in Van Diemenâ€™s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
John Murdoch, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Indus" in 1839 11
Margaret Murdoch, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Indus" in 1839 11
Andrew Murdoch, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Indus" in 1839 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Murdoch migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Murdoch Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. R. Murdoch, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 12
Mrs. Murdoch, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 12
Mr. John Murdoch, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Derwent Water" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 26th November 1861 13
Mr. James Murdoch, Scottish settler travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th October 1861 12
Mr. John Murdoch, Scottish settler travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th October 1861 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Murdoch (post 1700) +

Dame Jean Iris Murdoch DBE (1919-1999), Irish novelist and philosopher, best known for her novels about good and evil, sexual relationships, morality, and the power of the unconscious including her first published novel, Under the Net, which was selected in 1998 as one of Modern Library's 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century
W. Crawford Murdoch, American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 44th District, 1919-22 14
John J. Murdoch (b. 1847), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Huron County, 1899-1902 14
John Murdoch, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Montana, 2008 14
Allen C. Murdoch, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Parkersburg, West Virginia, 1929, 1934 14
Alexander Murdoch, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1860 14
Rupert Murdoch AC KSG (b. 1931), Australian-born, American media magnate and the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of News Corporation
William Murdoch (1754-1839), Scottish engineer and inventor who built a prototype steam locomotive in 1784, recipient of the Rumford Medal
Stewart Murdoch (b. 1990), Scottish professional football player from Aberdeen
James Murdoch (1856-1921), Scottish scholar and journalist
... (Another 24 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Murdoch family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Raymond Charles Murdoch (1922-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Prospect, South Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 15

North Sea Flood

C. Murdoch, British worker aboard the trawler "Michael Griffith" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
John Murdoch, British worker aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" who survived the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

RMS Lusitania

Miss Jessie Murdoch, American 2nd Class passenger from Westbury, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 16

RMS Titanic

Mr. William John Murdoch (d. 1912), aged 33, Scottish Senior Sixth Engineer from Stirling, Scotland who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 17
William McMaster Murdoch (1873-1912), Scottish first Officer on the RMS Titanic and in charge on the bridge the night when the Titanic collided with an iceberg 17

The Murdoch Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Omine secundo
Motto Translation: With favourable omen.

Sources +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199â€“1216)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) INDUS 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Indus.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html