Murcar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Murcar was first found in Northumberland but as a frequent occupational name, many records were found in various parts of ancient England. In fact, Serio le Mercer as Lord Mayor of London in 1215 and again from 1218 to 1221. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Jordan de Mercer, Lincolnshire; Adelard le Mercer, Oxfordshire; and Ketel le Mercer, Cambridgeshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 have only one listing of the name: Thomas Mercer. 2

Without a doubt, Scotland holds the most history for this family. One of the first records there was William Mercer or le Mercer who witnessed two charters in favor of the Abbey of Kelso, c. 1200. A few years later, "Aleumnus Mercer was party with twenty-three others to a bond given by Alexander 11 to Henry III in 1244 to keep the peace. He had a grant of Tillicoultry from Walter, son of Alan. His son and successor of the same name resigned his lands into the king's hands in 1261. A curious story of two Mercers appears in English records, which throws an interesting sidelight on the law of the period. In 1279 'a man unknown was housed at Morpathe (Morpeth) with Geoffrey and William, the mercers of Scotland. The stranger rose through the night and stole their goods to the value of 30s., and instantly fled to Cotinwode, followed by William, who slew him in his flight. Both withdrew themselves and are not discredited. They may return if they will, but their chattels are confiscated for flight' (Apparently it was lawful to pursue a thief with hue and cry and do summary justice on him if found with the goods in his possession. The Mercers erred in not pursuing the thief in the recognized way.) " 3