McMurrich Surname History

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of McMurrich

What does the name McMurrich mean?

The ancestors of the McMurrich family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. The family name comes from the Gaelic name Muiredachus, meaning "belonging to the sea, a mariner," from which also comes the more common and quite distinct name Murdoch.

Early Origins of the McMurrich family

The surname McMurrich 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 Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the McMurrich family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McMurrich research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1485 and 1845 are included under the topic Early McMurrich History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McMurrich Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name McMurrich 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 MacVurrich, MacVurich, MacVarish, MacVarrais, MacVarrich, MacWirriche, MacVorist, MacVorish, MacMorice, MacNuirighe and many more.

Early Notables of the McMurrich family

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

Migration of the McMurrich 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 McMurrich or a variant listed above: Archibald, Florence, Lachlan, Mary and Merrau McVurich arrived in New York State in 1739.

Contemporary Notables of the name McMurrich (post 1700) +

John McMurrich (1804-1883), Scottish-born businessman and politician from Paisley, Scotland who emigrated to Upper Canada in 1833 to work in York (now Toronto)
Peter James McMurrich (1886-1960), Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the Victorian Football League (1904)
James Playfair McMurrich FRSC (1859-1939), Canadian zoologist and academic, son of John McMurrich
William Barclay McMurrich (1842-1908), Canadian lawyer and politician, Mayor of Toronto from 1881 to 1882, son of John McMurrich
George McMurrich (1844-1913), Canadian politician, member of Toronto City Council in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, son of John McMurrich