Murdaugh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

Murdaugh is an ancient Dalriadan-Scottish nickname for a person associated with the sea. The name Murdaugh 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 Murdaugh family

The surname Murdaugh 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 Murdaugh family

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

Murdaugh Spelling Variations

Medieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. Murdaugh has been written as Murdock, Murdoch, Murtoch, Murtough and others.

Early Notables of the Murdaugh family

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

Migration of the Murdaugh family to Ireland

Some of the Murdaugh 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.

Migration of the Murdaugh family

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Murdaugh or a variant listed above: John Murdoch settled in New England in 1718; John Murdoch settled in North Carolina in 1774; Robert Murdoch settled in New Hampshire in 1718; Jeremiah Murdock settled in Virginia in 1726.

Contemporary Notables of the name Murdaugh (post 1700) +

Lieutenant Commander Albert C. Murdaugh (1903-1981), American Naval commander of the USS Edison (DD-439), a Gleaves-class destroyer, awarded the Legion of Merit
Randolph Murdaugh Sr. (1887-1940), American lawyer and founder of the civil litigation firm that is now the Parker Law Group LLP, in 1910
Dr. Edward D. Murdaugh, American first administrator of Frostburg State University from 1853 to 1925, President of University of Central Oklahoma (1895-1901)

The Murdaugh 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.

Citations +

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 (1199–1216)