MacMurdy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of MacMurdy

What does the name MacMurdy mean?

Originally, MacMurdy was a nickname for a seagoing warrior. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Mhurchaidh, which means son of the sea warrior.

Early Origins of the MacMurdy family

The surname MacMurdy was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, 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 MacMurdy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacMurdy research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacMurdy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacMurdy Spelling Variations

Spelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. MacMurdy has appeared in various documents spelled MacMurdo, MacMurdie, MacMurdy, Murdoson, MacMurdiston and many more.

Early Notables of the MacMurdy family

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

Migration of the MacMurdy family

Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name MacMurdy, or a variant listed above: Jonathon, and Robert McMurdey settled in Philadelphia in 1814; Benjamin, Jonathon, Robert McMurdy settled in Philadelphia in 1807; John McMurdy settled in New York in 1804..