Merkis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of Merkis

What does the name Merkis mean?

On the Scottish west coast, the Merkis family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the personal name Murchadh, which means sea warrior.The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Mhurchaidh, meaning son of Murchadh. 1

Two other sources claim the name is from Merchiston (Merchistoun), a place name in Edinburghshire. 2 3

Early Origins of the Merkis family

The surname Merkis was first found in Inverness, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. They are believed to be descended from Murdoch, a natural son of Angus Mor of Islay of the Clan Donald. In the 12th and 13th centuries the name assumed the Gaelic MacMurchie but with the growing economic need to blend into the mainland the name became anglicized to Murchison.

One of the first records of the family was Fowill Morthoison, who was Burgess of Inverness in 1452. Later, John Murchosone was witness in Peebles in 1473 and Findlay Murquhasson and Neill Murquhason or Murquhessoun were tenants in Tiree in 1541. 1

Early History of the Merkis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Merkis research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1452, 1541, 1566, 1574, 1582, 1685, 1726, 1792, 1830, 1855, 1871 and 1879 are included under the topic Early Merkis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merkis Spelling Variations

In various documents Merkis has been spelled Since medieval scribes still spelled according to sound, records from that era contain an enormous number of spelling variations. Murchison, Murcheson, Murchieson, Murquhouson, Murquhosoun, Murckison and many more.

Early Notables of the Merkis family

Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, 1st Baronet, KCB, DCL, FRS, HonFRSE, FLS, MRIA (1792-1871), a Scottish geologist who served as director-general of the British Geological Survey from 1855 until his death in 1871. He is noted for investigating and describing the Silurian, Devonian and Permian systems. He was the eponym of Murchison...
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Merkis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Merkis family

Significant portions of the populations of both the United States and Canada are still made up of the ancestors of Dalriadan families. Some of those in Canada originally settled the United States, but went north as United Empire Loyalists in the American War of Independence. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the ancestors of many Scots on both sides of the border begin to recover their collective national heritage through Clan societies and highland games. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: William, Jr. Murchie, who arrived in New York in 1774; Alex. Murchinson, who arrived in Prince Edward Island in 1803; Alexander Murchison, who arrived in Jamaica sometime between 1813 and 1825.

The Merkis 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: Impavido pectore
Motto Translation: With undaunted heart.

Sources +

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)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.