McMurtrie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancestors of the name McMurtrie are thought to have come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. McMurtrie was used to indicate someone who worked as a noted mariner or a sea captain. 1
Early Origins of the McMurtrie family
The surname McMurtrie 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 McMurtrie family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McMurtrie 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 McMurtrie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McMurtrie Spelling Variations
In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. McMurtrie has appeared as MacCurdy, MacKirdy, MacKirdie, MacCurdie, MacQuartie, MacBararthy, MacBerarthy, MacWerarthy, MacMurtrie, MacMutrie and many more.
Early Notables of the McMurtrie family
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McMurtrie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the McMurtrie family to Ireland
Some of the McMurtrie 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.
McMurtrie migration to the United States +
Many of the ancestors of Dalriadan families who arrived in North America still live in communities along the east coast of Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence many of the original settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the ancestors of many Scots began recovering their collective national heritage through Clan societies, highland games, and other patriotic events. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name McMurtrie or a variant listed above:
McMurtrie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Archibald, James, Samuel, Thomas, and William McMurtrie all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1800 and 1870
McMurtrie Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Jaime McMurtrie, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Ayrshire, in 1903
- James L. McMurtrie, aged 22, who landed in America from Locherbie, in 1906
- Elizabeth McMurtrie, who immigrated to America, in 1906
- David McMurtrie, aged 22, who settled in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1909
- Jeff McMurtrie, aged 27, who settled in America from Orange, Australia, in 1909
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
McMurtrie migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
McMurtrie Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- James Stinson McMurtrie, who landed in Canada in 1834
McMurtrie migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
McMurtrie Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- William McMurtrie, aged 36, a gardener, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "John Bunyan" 3
Contemporary Notables of the name McMurtrie (post 1700) +
- William McMurtrie (1851-1913), American chemist, President of the American Chemical Society in 1900
- Douglas Crawford McMurtrie (1888-1944), American typeface designer, graphic designer, eponym of the McMurtrie and Ultra-Modern type faces
- Shirley McMurtrie, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1984 4
- Robert McMurtrie, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 15th District, 1851-53 4
- R. H. McMurtrie, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1940 4
- Ephraim McMurtrie, American politician, U.S. Collector of Customs, 1879-81 4
- John McMurtrie (b. 1969), British music photographer, known for his work with the Metal Hammer magazine, Total Guitar magazine and regularly contributes to Rolling Stone and Q magazine
- Charles McMurtrie (1880-1951), early Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer, gold medalist in rugby union at the 1908 Summer Olympics
- George McMurtrie Godley II (1917-1999), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Congo (Leopoldville), (1964-1666), Laos, (1969-1973) and Lebanon, (1974-1976)
- David McMurtrie Gregg (1833-1916), American farmer, diplomat, Union cavalry general in the American Civil War
The McMurtrie 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)
- South Australian Register Wednesday 24th May 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) John Bunyan 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/johnbunyan1854.shtml
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html