| ![Show Contents]() Murkis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Scotland
Etymology of MurkisWhat does the name Murkis mean? The Murkis family comes from the ancient Scottish Dalriadan clans of the mountainous west coast of Scotland. The name Murkis is derived 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 Murkis familyThe surname Murkis 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 Murkis familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Murkis 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 Murkis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Murkis Spelling VariationsSpelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. Murkis has appeared in various documents spelled Murchison, Murcheson, Murchieson, Murquhouson, Murquhosoun, Murckison and many more. Early Notables of the Murkis familySir 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 Murkis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Murkis familyDalriadan 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 Murkis or a variant listed above: 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 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.
- 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.
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