McMurty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

McMurty comes from the kingdom of Dalriada in ancient Scotland. It was a name for a person who worked as a noted mariner or a sea captain. 1

Early Origins of the McMurty family

The surname McMurty was first found in the islands of Arran and Bute. Early records for the family are scarce. "In 1506 Gilcrist Makwrerdy held the lands of Bransar in Bute, and Finlay Makvreirdy had sasine of Brothok there in the same year. Donald Makwrarty of Birgadulknok appears in 1534; several M'Urartys appear as witnesses in Bute in 1540; and Sir James M'Wartye, a Pope's knight, appears as vicar of Kingarth in Bute, 1554 and 1556. James Makilveritie, chaplain in the chapel of S. Michael the Archangel in Rothesay Castle, between 1590-1600, appears in the Exchequer Rolls as McQuhirertie, McQuhirirtie, McQuheritie (these three spellings in 1596), McIliquharartie (1598), and Makquhirrirtie (1600). " 2

The MacMurtrie variant is "current in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, Gilbert Makmurtye was a witness in Edinburgh, 1508." 2

Early History of the McMurty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McMurty research. Another 290 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1506, 1517, 1520, 1539, 1541, 1547, 1555, 1561, 1562, 1564, 1566, 1568, 1600, 1622, 1623, 1626, 1642, 1659, 1662, 1663, 1706, 1745, 1790, 1797, 1847, 1849, 1856, 1880, 1886, 1887, 1890, 1891, 1899, 1907, 1908, 1911, 1920, 1923, 1929, 1947, 1952, 1959, 1960 and 1961 are included under the topic Early McMurty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McMurty Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name McMurty include many spelling variations. They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. They include MacCurdy, MacKirdy, MacKirdie, MacCurdie, MacQuartie, MacBararthy, MacBerarthy, MacWerarthy, MacMurtrie, MacMutrie and many more.

Early Notables of the McMurty family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McMurty Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McMurty family to Ireland

Some of the McMurty family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 147 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McMurty migration to the United States +

Many who arrived from Scotland settled along the east coast of North America in communities that would go on to become the backbones of the young nations of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many settlers who remained loyal to England went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Their descendants later began to recover the lost Scottish heritage through events such as the highland games that dot North America in the summer months. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the McMurty family emigrate to North America:

McMurty Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William McMurty, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 3

McMurty migration to Australia +

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

McMurty Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James McMurty, aged 37, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Sultana" 4
James McMurty, aged 37, a labourer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sultana" in 1850 4
Margaret McMurty, aged 36, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sultana" in 1850 4
John McMurty, aged 16, a labourer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sultana" in 1850 4
James McMurty, aged 14, a labourer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sultana" in 1850 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McMurty (post 1700) +

Ira B. McMurty, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State Senate 24th District, 1928 5
Ione McMurty, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Colorado, 1964 5

The McMurty 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: Dieu et mon pays
Motto Translation: God and my country.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
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)
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) SULTANA 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Sultana.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html