Surname Murdoc - Meaning and Origin
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Murdoc: What does the surname Murdoc mean?
The surname Murdoc is of Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name Muireadhach. This name is composed of the elements "muir", meaning "sea", and "geadh", meaning "man", "warrior", or "navigator", thus the overall meaning could be interpreted as "seaman" or "mariner". Over time, the name evolved into several variations including Murdock, Murdoch, Murtagh, and others. The surname Murdoc is quite rare and is mostly found in regions where Scottish or Irish populations have historically settled. It should be noted that the meaning of a surname does not necessarily indicate the occupation or characteristics of all who bear the name, as it may originally, centuries ago, pertain to a single individual in the lineage. Moreover, Murdoc entered popular culture as the name of a character in the British virtual band Gorillaz, which doesn't inherently carry any meaning associated with the historical origin of the name.
Order DNA origin analysisMurdoc: Where does the name Murdoc come from?
The last name Murdoc is mainly found in the United States and Canada. It is of British descent, with Scottish and Irish origins. Murdoc is a surname derived from the Gaelic name "MacMurdoach." It is an occupational or topographical surname as well, referring to a person who lived near a ford, pool, or marsh.
In terms of frequency, Murdoc is a relatively rare last name. In the 2000 census, there were only 114 people in the United States bearing the surname, and in Canada there were only 75 people.
Most of the people bearing the last name Murdoc live in the United States. The majority of them are concentrated in Pennsylvania, New York, California, Florida and Texas.
The last name wasn't always as rare as it is today. During the 19th Century, the Murdoc name was fairly common among European immigrants. It is believed that the Irish variant of the name originates from Ulster, and most of the Murdocs in the United States trace their roots to Ireland.
The name Murdoc has gone through several minor variations, including MacMurdough, Murdaud, MacMurdied, Murdagh, and MacMordy.
The Murdoc surname has morphed over time, and each generation is now different from the one before. Today, Murdoc is still a rare but not a completely unknown surname.
Variations of the surname Murdoc
The surname Murdoc has a variety of different spellings and variants, including Murdock, Murdo, Murdoch, Murdog, Murduck, Murdaugh, Murdaughk, and Murdough. In some parts of Scotland, Murdoc is spelled Murtagh, MacMurdoch, and MacMordock—all of which are surnames from the same origin.
The origin of the surname Murdoc can be traced back to the Old Gaelic word “Murchadh”, meaning “sea warrior”. It is believed that the surname arose from a family of warriors who arrived in Scotland in the early 11th century.
The surname Murdoc has been popularly used throughout Europe, with many different spellings and variants. In England, the surname is spelled Murdock, while in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales it can also be found spelled as Murdoch, Murdo, Murdog, or Murduck.
In the United States, many immigrants of Scottish descent adopted the surname Murdock, resulting in the numerous different spellings found in American records. As well as the aforementioned spelling variations, records can also show Murdaugh, Murdaughk, and Murdough as alternative spellings of Murdoc.
Though the variants of the surname Murdoc may differ in spelling, they all continue to be linked to the same origins—a family of sea warriors who first arrived in Scotland more than one thousand years ago.
Famous people with the name Murdoc
- Murdoc Niccals: Major antagonist and bassist of the virtual band Gorillaz.
- Charles Murdock: 19th century American politician from New Hampshire, who served as a Whig in the United States House of Representatives.
- Murdock MacQuarrie: Former leader of the Scottish National Party, and an early riser of Scottish nationalism.
- Eric Murdock: Former NBA player and a prominent sports agent.
- Al Murdock: American jazz guitarist, composer, and recording artist.
- Johnny Murdock: American country music singer-songwriter.
- Lyman Murdock: American actor, director, and screenwriter, best known for his silent era films with Buster Keaton.
- J.D. Murdock: American historian, linguist, and poet who specialized in the study of the Appalachian Mountains.
- Grant Murdock: American television producer, best known for his work on the crime drama series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
- Jack Murdock: Marvel Comics character, father of the superhero Daredevil.