Woth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of Woth

What does the name Woth mean?

The west coast of Scotland and the rocky Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the Woth family. The root of their name is the personal name Murdo. The Gaelic form of the surname was Mac Mhurchaidh, meaning son of Murdo. The name Murdo is equivalent to Murdock, and means sea warrior.

Early Origins of the Woth family

The surname Woth was first found in south Uist, in the Outer Hebrides (Gaelic: Na h-Eileanan Siar), in the present day Council Area of Western Isles, a region controlled by the Norwegians prior to the Treaty of Perth in 1266, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Woth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Woth research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1506 is included under the topic Early Woth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Woth 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. Woth has appeared in various documents spelled MacMurchie, MacMurchy, MacUrchie, MacWurchie, MacWorthy, MacVurchie, Murchie and many more.

Early Notables of the Woth family

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

Migration of the Woth family

Ancestors of many of the Dalriadan families who crossed the Atlantic still live along the east coast of the United States and Canada. Some Scottish settlers arrived in Canada during the American War of Independence as United Empire Loyalists, while others stayed south to fight for a new nation. The descendants of Scottish settlers in both countries began to rediscover their heritage in the 19th and 20th centuries through Clan societies and highland games. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Woth or a variant listed above: Finlay McMurchie, his wife Catherine, and their five children, who settled in Wilmington, NC in 1774; Hugh McMurchie, his wife Elizabeth, and their five children, who arrived in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774.

The Woth 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: Per mare per terras
Motto Translation: By sea and by land.