NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcmurdo

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "hillside inlet" or "sea inlet."

In the 1881 census there were 436 people recorded with the Mcmurdo surname, ranking it #7,485 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 918, ranked #6,215, up from #7,485 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Dumfries and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Upper Nithsdale, Auchinleck and Cumnock North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcmurdo is 939 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 110.6%.

1881 census count

436

Ranked #7,485

Modern count

918

2016, ranked #6,215

Peak year

2010

939 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcmurdo had 436 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,485 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 918 in 2016, ranked #6,215.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 696 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcmurdo surname distribution map

The map shows where the Mcmurdo surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Mcmurdo surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcmurdo over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 194 #10,662
1861 historical 310 #8,175
1881 historical 436 #7,485
1891 historical 567 #6,705
1901 historical 696 #6,314
1911 historical 137 #18,880
1997 modern 799 #6,544
1998 modern 866 #6,341
1999 modern 901 #6,197
2000 modern 899 #6,182
2001 modern 864 #6,258
2002 modern 887 #6,246
2003 modern 865 #6,255
2004 modern 874 #6,230
2005 modern 887 #6,088
2006 modern 889 #6,102
2007 modern 912 #6,029
2008 modern 918 #6,047
2009 modern 937 #6,062
2010 modern 939 #6,173
2011 modern 921 #6,216
2012 modern 911 #6,194
2013 modern 918 #6,254
2014 modern 916 #6,292
2015 modern 921 #6,223
2016 modern 918 #6,215

Geography

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Where Mcmurdos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Dumfries, Manchester, Closeburn and Sanquhar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Upper Nithsdale, Auchinleck, Cumnock North, Cumnock South and Craigens and Northumberland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bothwell Lanark
2 Dumfries Dumfries
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Closeburn Dumfries
5 Sanquhar Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
2 Auchinleck East Ayrshire
3 Cumnock North East Ayrshire
4 Cumnock South and Craigens East Ayrshire
5 Northumberland 013 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcmurdo

These lists show first names that appear often with the Mcmurdo surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcmurdo

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcmurdo, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Mcmurdo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcmurdo household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mcmurdo is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcmurdo is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcmurdo falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcmurdo is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcmurdo, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcmurdo

The surname McMurdo is of Scottish origin, originating in the 12th century. It is a habitation name derived from the lands of McMurdo in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire. The name can be traced back to the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Mhurachaidh," meaning "son of the mariner."

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it is listed as "McMurdo de Strathaven." This suggests that the family held lands in the Strathaven area of Lanarkshire during the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the McMurdo family played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. John McMurdo (c. 1520-1590) was a notable Protestant reformer and one of the first ministers of the Church of Scotland.

The name is also associated with Sir Walter McMurdo (1776-1848), a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. He became a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy and was knighted for his distinguished service.

Another prominent figure was James McMurdo (1837-1914), a Scottish-American geologist and explorer. He led several expeditions to Alaska and the Arctic regions, contributing to the understanding of the region's geology and natural resources.

In the literary world, Maria McMurdo (1824-1897) was a Scottish novelist and poet. She wrote several works, including "The Lairds of Muirhouse" and "Tales of a Scottish Parish."

Sir John McMurdo (1873-1939) was a British civil engineer and surveyor who played a crucial role in the development of Hong Kong's infrastructure in the early 20th century. He served as the Director of Public Works in Hong Kong from 1910 to 1923.

The McMurdo name has also been linked to various place names, such as McMurdo Sound and McMurdo Station, a United States Antarctic research center named after Lieutenant Archibald McMurdo, who explored the region in the 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcmurdo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcmurdo surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 5 Mcmurdos recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.28x.

County Total Index
Durham 5 17.28x
Middlesex 3 3.08x
Lancashire 1 0.87x
Staffordshire 1 3.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wingate in Durham leads with 5 Mcmurdos recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Wingate 5 2500.00x
Hackney London 3 55.05x
Layton With Warbreck 1 238.10x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 172.41x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcmurdo surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Jane 1
Lillias 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcmurdo surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Alexander 1
Alexr.Jms. 1
German 1
Thomas 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mcmurdo households.

FAQ

Mcmurdo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcmurdo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 436 people were recorded with the Mcmurdo surname. That placed it at #7,485 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcmurdo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 918 in 2016. That gives Mcmurdo a modern rank of #6,215.

What does the Mcmurdo surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "hillside inlet" or "sea inlet."

What does the Mcmurdo map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcmurdo bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.