Contents [hide]

Murchie History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Murchie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

In the mountains of Scotland's west coast and on the Hebrides islands, the ancestors of the Murchie family were born. Their name comes from 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 Murchie family

The surname Murchie 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 Murchie family

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

Murchie Spelling Variations

Spelling variations are a very common occurrence in records of early Scottish names. They result from the repeated and inaccurate translations that many names went through in the course of various English occupations of Scotland. Murchie has been spelled MacMurchie, MacMurchy, MacUrchie, MacWurchie, MacWorthy, MacVurchie, Murchie and many more.

Early Notables of the Murchie family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

Donald MacMurchie of Durness in Sutherland, Chief of the Clan

Murchie migration to the United States +

Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Murchies to arrive on North American shores:

Murchie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Murchie Jr. who arrived in New York in 1774
Finlay Murchie, aged 45, who landed in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 1
Gavin Murchie, aged 11, who arrived in New York, NY in 1774 1
James Murchie, aged 15, who landed in New York, NY in 1774 1
John Murchie, aged 13, who arrived in New York, NY in 1774 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Murchie migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Murchie Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Andrew Murchie U.E. born in Paisley, Scotland from New York, USA who settled in Schoodic Falls [St. Stephen], Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Port Matoon Association, son of William Murchie 2
Mr. William Murchie U.E. born in Scotland from New York, USA who settled in Schoodic Falls [St. Stephen], Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Port Matoon Association 2

Murchie migration to Australia +

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

Murchie Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Ellen Murchie, aged 18, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "North"

Murchie 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:

Murchie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Murchie, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Martaban" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1856 3
Mrs. Mary Murchie, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Martaban" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1856 3
Miss Mary Murchie, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Martaban" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1856 3
Mr. William Murchie, (b. 1838), aged 23, English shepherd, from Wigton travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Rhea Sylvia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd May 1861 4
M. Murchie, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 18th November 1863 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Murchie (post 1700) +

Robert Charles Murchie (b. 1885), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New Hampshire Democratic State Committee, 1912-17; Merrimack County Solicitor, 1913-17 5
Robert B. Murchie, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 15th District, 1934; Candidate for Circuit Judge in Michigan 13th Circuit, 1947 5
Ned Harmon Murchie (1870-1954), American Republican politician, Mayor of Calais, Maine, 1929-33 5
John Grimmer Murchie (1837-1916), American Republican politician, Mayor of Calais, Maine, 1883-84 5
Harold Hale Murchie (1888-1953), American Republican politician, Member of Maine State House of Representatives from Washington County, 1919-20; Member of Maine State Senate 15th District, 1931-32 5
George Albert Murchie (1849-1914), American Republican politician, Mayor of Calais, Maine, 1892-96; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maine, 1900 5
Alexander Murchie, American politician, U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire, 1934-45 5
Lieutenant-General John Carl Murchie (1895-1966), Canadian Chief of Staff Canadian Military Headquarters, England 6
Lieutenant-General John Carl Murchie CB CBE CD (1895-1966), Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff (1943 to 1945)
James Murchie (1813-1900), Canadian farmer, businessman and political figure in New Brunswick
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Murchie 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.

Citations +

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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). 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
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 3) John Murchie. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Murchie/John_Carl/Canada.html