Surname Murdocq - Meaning and Origin
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Murdocq: What does the surname Murdocq mean?
The last name Murdocq is of Scottish origin and is a variant spelling of Murdoch. The name is derived from the Gaelic personal name Muireadhach, meaning "seafarer" or "mariner." This name was popular among the Goidels, i.e., the Celtic people, due to Ireland's seafaring history. During the Middle Ages, the variant spellings Murdock, Murdoch, Mordoch, Murchadh, and Murdocq were all used interchangeably. The spelling Murdocq is less common today but still exists. The surname is most prevalent in the United States, with less frequency in England and Australia. As with many surnames, the alternative spellings happened due to a combination of immigration records and regional accents on the name's pronunciation. Particularly when families emigrated to new countries, officials often documented the name phonetically, leading to a wide variety of spellings. Despite the variations, they all tend to have the same root meaning linked to maritime themes.
Order DNA origin analysisMurdocq: Where does the name Murdocq come from?
The last name Murdocq is most common today in the French Basque region of Atlantic Pyrénées. This region is located partially in southwestern France and partially in Northern Spain and is known for its long and unique cultural history. Murdocq is the Basque form of the Spanish-originated last name "Muro", meaning "wall", and is one of the most ancient and most common family names in this region.
The Basque culture has strong roots in this area and has had a strong impact on the many surnames associated with the region. It is believed that the Basque name Murdocq was derived from the Spanish "Muro", which in turn was derived from the Basque word "mur", meaning wall.
Due to the history of the Basque region, this last name is also found in other places such as France, Spain, and Latin American countries. For example, in Mexico this last name is associated with the colonial period, when Spanish settlers from the Basque country moved to territories that are now part of Mexico.
The Basque people of the Pyrénées have kept their cultural heritage alive as part of this region's long history. This includes the keeping of traditional family names, such as the Murdocq surname. As a result, this last name can still be commonly found in the Basque regions today.
Variations of the surname Murdocq
Murdocq is an old French name which often appears in the spelling Murdock and Murdoch. The Murdocq spelling, however, is more commonly used in France today. It is thought to have originated from Norman French, often rendered as ‘de Mordoc’ in earlier centuries.
Variants and other spellings of the surname include Mordoc, Mordock, Mordocq, Mordoque, Moudic, Mordouc, Mordoux, Mordocque, Mordoqui, Mordoczek, Mordoq, Morthoc, Mortoc and Mordoq.
Surnames similar to Murdocq with similar origins is Mordac, Mordik, Mordot, Mordeth, Morday, Mordak, Mordat, Mordic, Mordacq, Mordacus, Mordake, Mordask, Morthok, Mordah and Mordoque.
The name is usually found in present-day France and French-speaking regions, but variants of the name pop up all around the world, including Azores, Portugal, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, the United States, Caribbean, India, and the Iraq. People surnamed Murdocq, Murdoch and various of its variant spellings, historically come from a variety of backgrounds, including the Norman conquerors of England in the 11th century, Huguenot immigrants from the northern part of France, and various Jewish immigrants.
The name Murdocq can also appear in connection with other rare French surnames, such as Deshoe and Muaquit.
Famous people with the name Murdocq
- Pierre Philippe Marie Erasme de Murdocq (1778-1856) was a major-general in the armies of Napoleon and a member of the Chamber of Deputies of France.
- Hubert François de Murdocq (1784-1839) was a French soldier and statesman.
- Alphonse de Murdocq (1809-1876) was a French general and chairman of the Society of Arts and Crafts in France.
- Armand Pierre de Murdocq (1813-1890) was a French prefect and vice-president of the Senate.
- Auguste de Murdocq (1818-1897) was a French lawyer and politician.
- Baron Émile de Murdocq (1859-1945) was a French diplomat and author.
- Boris de Murdocq (1908-1995) was a French writer of Belgian origin.
- Frédéric de Murdocq (1931-2003) was a French politician, statesman, and lawyer.
- Julien de Murdocq (born 1934) is a French businessman, author, and former government official.
- Yves de Murdocq (born 1940) is a French diplomat and former French Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.