Murdoch Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Murdoch last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Murdoch coat of arms for you.
Meaning and origin of the Murdoch last name
Meaning of the Murdoch last name: from Muireadhach ("mariner, lord"). Murdoch comes from the Gaelic Muireadhach, meaning mariner or lord. It is found in Scotland and Ireland. A curious detail: the name was common in early medieval Scotland and appears in old stories about kings and saints.
Arms associated with the Murdoch name
Scottish shields often carry galleys, lions and hands, symbols of sea power, courage and loyalty, and the Murdoch name belongs to that tradition.
Get your full Murdoch family history
This is only a glimpse of the Murdoch story. The full Murdoch history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Murdoch coat of arms. Get the full Murdoch report.
Murdoch name FAQ
What does the Murdoch name mean?
From Muireadhach ("mariner, lord"). Common variants include Murdock, Murtagh, MacMurdo.
Where does the Murdoch surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in Australia, the United States and Canada.
Is there a Murdoch coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Murdoch coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.