Surname Murdochs - Meaning and Origin

Murdochs: What does the surname Murdochs mean?

The surname Murdochs is of Scottish origin and is derived from Murdac, which is a variation of the Old Gaelic personal name Muireadhach. Muireadhach is a compound of the elements "muir" which means "sea" and "radh" which means "rider or mounted warrior". So, it suggests a sense of a seafaring or maritime warrior. Like many other Scottish surnames, it might have originally referred to a specific ancestor, and then passed down through generations, its meaning somewhat lost over time. Due to historical Scottish-English tensions, many Scots chose or were forced to anglicize their names; thus the variant spellings like Murdock and Murdoch. Currently, it's most recognized due to Rupert Murdoch, a prominent media mogul. However, it's important to consider the cultural and historical contexts in which names were formed, as meanings have evolved over centuries and can vary based on location.

Murdochs: Where does the name Murdochs come from?

The last name Murdochs is common today in Australia and New Zealand in particular, as well as in various parts of the British Isles, North America, and parts of Europe.

The origin of the name is said to be Scottish, where the name derives from the Gaelic Mac Muireadhaigh, initially used to describe someone living in the region of Muneraw on the River Spey in the Moray area of Scotland. In its modern form, the surname can be found as MacMurdoch, which is a derivative of the Gaelic name, as well as Murdoch, Murdochs, and Murdochson.

In Australia, the popular Murdoch Family produced notable offspring who were responsible for creating many of the legacy enterprises of the Antipodean continent, such as newspapers, television, and banking. The proto-Murdochs of Australia, Patrick and Ida Murdoch, were British immigrants who arrived separately in Sydney in 1868 and 1870 respectively, and later married in 1875. Patrick was a carpenter who had originally come to Australia from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1854.

In the present day, there is a strong concentration of Murdochs in New Zealand and the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales. More recently, descendants from the Murdoch Family have also spread to Canada and the United States. The Murdochs may no longer possess any of the power and influence they once held in parts of the world, but the family's legacy still lives on in the financially successful companies and public figures that bear their name.

Variations of the surname Murdochs

Murdochs is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Murdo, which is a variation of the name Murdoch. This surname has several alternate spellings and variant forms, including Murdo, MacMurdo, Murtoch, Murtaugh, Murdach and Murdish.

In Scotland and Ireland, Murdochs most commonly originates as a variation of the pre-13th century Scottish and Irish Gaelic name MacMhuriodhach. This name is derived from the personal name Murdo, which is a form of the name Murdoch or MacMurdo. The root of the name comes from the Gaelic word 'murchadh', which means 'Sea Warrior'.

In England, Murdochs is an old Anglo-Norman name, which was first introduced to Britain in the late 12th century after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name also appeared as Mordewisk or Moredeswyk during the Medieval Times, which is derived from a combination of the Old English personal name 'Morðe', meaning 'famed' with 'wyk', meaning 'place' or 'dwelling'. It is also believed that the surname is a variation of 'Montgomery'.

Murdochs is the most common surname in Scotland, where it reached its highest point in population in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is still found in most of the English speaking countries around the globe like Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand, and South Africa. In the United States the spelling variants of Murdochs are more common than the original Scottish spelling.

Famous people with the name Murdochs

• Rupert Murdoch: founder of News Corporation and owner of many newspapers, television networks, magazines, and film studios
• James Murdoch: Rupert’s son and former CEO of 21st Century Fox
• Lachlan Murdoch: Rupert’s son and co-chairman and CEO of Fox Corporation
• Kathryn Murdoch: Rupert’s daughter and philanthropist
• Prudence MacLeod: Murdoch’s late niece and author
• Jackie deKleijn-Murdoch: Rupert’s niece and executive producer and showrunner
• Chadwick Murdoch: Rupert’s late nephew and Australia’s former Ambassador to Thailand
• Elisabeth Murdoch: Rupert’s daughter and chairman and CEO of her own production company, Shine Group
• Anneka Murdoch: Rupert’s late niece and Australian television presenter
• Anne Murdoch: Rupert’s late aunt and film researcher
• Marion Murdoch: Rupert’s mother and newspaper proprietor
• Faith Hiroke: Rupert’s daughter-in-law and television journalist
• Kieran Murdoch: Rupert’s son and science educator
• Luke Murdoch: Rupert’s adopted brother and sports journalist
• Anna Murdoch: Rupert’s ex-wife and novelist
• Emmett Murdoch: Rupert’s grandson and photographer

Other surnames

MurdocMurdochMurdockMurdocksMurdocq