History of the Murdoch surname

Early Times. The Scots (Scoti) had occupied the North of Ireland since times unknown. In the 4thC they began to invade the Roman Province of Britain and therefore made the headlines for the first time.

Roman Britain essentially means England and Wales as the Northern lands of the Picts (modern Scotland more or less) were never occupied for any lengthy period. A fortification across a Tay-Clyde line, a turf wall across Forth-Clyde and a stone wall Tyne-Solway were built and occupied at various times to keep the Picts out.

By 500 the Scots (Scoti) had also established themselves the Southern Hebrides and the immediate mainland - the ancient kingdom of Dalriada.

With their close associations with the Clan Donald, one branch of Murdochs claim to be named after Muiredach O Daly date back through this time to claim (like their Macdonald cousins) descent from the legendary Conn of the Battles. Other great ancesters were Caibre Liffechar 117th King of Ireland founder of the Dalriada, Nial Mhor 126th King and Muireadach, King of Aileach (d 480) .

In the 9thC, much of Scotland was attacked by Scandinavians or Vikings. Parts of Scotland became part of Norway and Norse displaced Gaelic: Hebrides, Caithness, Orkney and Shetland. In two other areas: Galloway and Moray/Banff large numbers of Norse are known to have settled. They intermarried with Gaels and in Galloway became the firely independent Gallgaels. Gaelic remained the language as Gaels probably outnumbered Norse in these areas. Those among these societies who had Norse ancestry might well have been known as murchadh - sea warriors.

1066+ Forenames of Yorkshire landowners in English Doomsday Book - Murdac and Murdoc - were common. These derived from people of Gaelic/Irish descent who had moved with the Norse when they settled Yorkshire. However here we are talking about 'Murdoch' as a first name, not in a blood sense of claiming ancestry back a common Mhuirich of ancient times.

1135 Somerled of the Clan Donald, Thane of Argyll chose Scotland rather than Norway and helped David I rid Arran and Bute of Norse. From that time Clan Donald's privileged position in the Kingdom of Scotland stems.

1153 Murdoch or Murriach the Parson became Chief of Chattan Clan. From this chief all 'sons of Mhuirich' and 'sons of the Parson' literally Mac Pherson, claim descent.

1164 Somerled died at Renfrew fighting Malcolm IV. He had 3 sons: 1st founded MacDougalls of Lorne, 2nd Ranald whose eldest son Donald was the ancestor of all Clan Donalds throughout Scotland. His eldest son Angus Mor Mac Donald formed Clan Donald South centred on Jura.

1213 Muiredach O Daly (1180 - 1222) , great bard of the Donalds and considered to be the Clan forefather of some Murdochs, moved from Ireland to Scotland. In Ireland, rent had been demanded of O Daly who as Royal Bard felt this was not due. In a dispute O Daly split open the head of a member of the powerful O Donnell Clan with a battle axe. After this incident it appears that O Daly's future lay across the sea in Scotland! O Daly settled in Islay at the court of the Donalds. So highly thought of were his poems that he bestowed the title - Muiredach Albanach.

Dun Mhuirrich on Linnhe Mhuirrich, an inlet on Loch Sween, Argyll became a stronghold. The ruins of this can be seen to this day. The inhabitants of this Castle have been considered by some to be the original Murdochs of the Southern Isles, however the Curries trace their roots back to this site. The soft Gaelic 'Mh' is just as likely to be anglicised to 'C'.

1317 Macphersons moved from Lochaber to Badenoch. They had helped Robert I (the Bruce) against his Comyn rival and had received land around Newtonmore and Laggan as reward.

Murdochs have been associated with Macdonalds and Macphersons - said to be bards to the first and standard bearers to the second. This however is based on the improbable assumption that those with the surname Murdoch derived from an ancient character with that forename.

1411 In the savage Battle of Harlaw clan Donald fought against the forces of the Duke of Albany. The great poet Lachian Mhor of the clan Murdoch recited a now famous Gaelic war song from a grassy knoll before the battle. James I later execute Murdoch (firstname, not blood related) Duke of Albany in 1423 for his treachery.

1607 Dun Mhuirrich in Argyll was occupied up until now when the land became forfeit to Clan Campbell. Murdochs may have moved at this point, possibly moving to Antrim or SW Scotland.

1610 Around now Murdochs moved to Ulster as part of the Plantation of Protestant settlers into Ireland. These would have been Protestants of Galloway & Ayrshire.

1649 Cathral Macmhuirich's poem "do isligh onior Ghaoidheal". Macmhuirich is considered to have been one of the finest Gaelic poets of his period.