NameCensus.

UK surname

Murchie

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic term "muirbhtheach" meaning mariner or seaman.

In the 1881 census there were 494 people recorded with the Murchie surname, ranking it #6,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 542, ranked #9,396, down from #6,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Kilmory and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arran, Annan East and Crieff North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murchie is 542 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.7%.

1881 census count

494

Ranked #6,837

Modern count

542

2016, ranked #9,396

Peak year

2016

542 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murchie had 494 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 542 in 2016, ranked #9,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 526 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Murchie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murchie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Murchie 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 268 #8,326
1861 historical 324 #7,860
1881 historical 494 #6,837
1891 historical 513 #7,274
1901 historical 526 #7,760
1911 historical 71 #25,742
1997 modern 488 #9,470
1998 modern 520 #9,316
1999 modern 521 #9,362
2000 modern 514 #9,424
2001 modern 504 #9,413
2002 modern 506 #9,545
2003 modern 486 #9,688
2004 modern 491 #9,630
2005 modern 484 #9,659
2006 modern 486 #9,675
2007 modern 504 #9,508
2008 modern 496 #9,694
2009 modern 501 #9,843
2010 modern 508 #9,929
2011 modern 500 #9,952
2012 modern 492 #9,989
2013 modern 506 #9,936
2014 modern 517 #9,846
2015 modern 536 #9,517
2016 modern 542 #9,396

Geography

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Where Murchies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Kilmory, Glasgow, Paisley Abbey and Ardrossan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arran, Annan East, Crieff North, East Hertfordshire and Coupar Angus and Meigle. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Kilmory Bute
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Paisley Abbey Renfrew
5 Ardrossan Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arran North Ayrshire
2 Annan East Dumfries and Galloway
3 Crieff North Perth and Kinross
4 East Hertfordshire 002 East Hertfordshire
5 Coupar Angus and Meigle Perth and Kinross

Forenames

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First names often paired with Murchie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Murchie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Murchie, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Murchie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Murchie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Murchie is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Murchie 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

Murchie falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Murchie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Murchie

The surname Murchie is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name Muireach. This name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "muir," meaning "sea," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near the sea or was a seafarer.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Murchie can be traced back to the 16th century in the Scottish Highlands. It is believed that the name was initially concentrated in the regions of Perthshire and Aberdeenshire, where variations such as Murchison, Murchison, and Murchieson were also found.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Murchie can be found in the Scottish parish records of the late 16th century. In 1592, a John Murchie was recorded as a landowner in the Perthshire region. This provides evidence of the name's early presence in Scotland.

In the 17th century, the surname Murchie began to spread beyond the Scottish Highlands. Records from this period show individuals with this name in various parts of Scotland, including the Lowlands. One notable example is William Murchie, a merchant who lived in Edinburgh in the mid-1600s.

During the 18th century, the Murchie name continued to gain prominence in Scotland. In 1734, a Robert Murchie was born in Aberdeenshire. He later became a prominent figure in the Scottish Enlightenment movement and was known for his contributions to philosophy and literature.

Another notable figure with the surname Murchie was Janet Murchie, born in 1765 in Perthshire. She was a renowned poet and author, and her works were widely published and celebrated during her lifetime.

In the 19th century, the Murchie family continued to leave their mark on Scottish history. One of the most influential individuals with this surname was Alexander Murchie, born in 1812 in Aberdeenshire. He was a prominent politician and served as a member of the British Parliament, representing the city of Aberdeen.

As the 20th century approached, the Murchie name had become well-established throughout Scotland and beyond. In 1892, James Murchie, a Scottish-born businessman, founded the Murchie Tea and Coffee Company in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. This company became a renowned purveyor of fine teas and coffees, cementing the Murchie name in the annals of Canadian entrepreneurship.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Murchie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murchie 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. Ayrshire leads with 176 Murchies recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.61x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 176 48.61x
Buteshire 88 300.14x
Lanarkshire 87 5.56x
Renfrewshire 30 8.00x
Wigtownshire 23 35.80x
Aberdeenshire 15 3.35x
Kirkcudbrightshire 15 21.42x
Cumberland 14 3.36x
Lancashire 13 0.23x
Argyllshire 8 5.94x
Yorkshire 6 0.13x
Banffshire 5 4.98x
Angus 4 0.89x
Perthshire 3 1.38x
Dumfriesshire 2 1.87x
Isle of Man 2 2.23x
Midlothian 2 0.31x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Kent 1 0.06x
Northumberland 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilmory in Buteshire leads with 86 Murchies recorded in 1881 and an index of 2014.05x.

Place Total Index
Kilmory 86 2014.05x
Govan 42 10.85x
Barony 37 9.34x
St Quivox 23 187.91x
Ardrossan 21 167.60x
Auckinleck 17 151.65x
Abbey 13 22.72x
Penninghame 10 152.67x
Dundonald 9 67.42x
Irvine 9 89.46x
Loudoun 9 103.33x
Tarbolton 9 151.01x
Coylton 8 155.64x
Kilmarnock 8 18.56x
Kirkmabreck 8 261.44x
Meldrum 8 212.20x
Girvan 7 77.01x
Monkton Prestwick 7 198.86x
West Kilbride 7 202.90x
Colmonell 6 164.84x
Eskdaleside 6 254.24x
Kirkmichael 6 181.82x
Riccarton 6 109.89x
Symington 6 517.24x
Ayr 5 29.26x
Marnoch 5 92.76x
Rickergate 5 56.75x
Sorn 5 70.32x
West Derby 5 2.98x
West Greenock 5 7.43x
Aberdeen Old Machar 4 4.28x
Caldewgate 4 17.53x
Coupar Angus 4 94.34x
Kirkcowan 4 185.19x
Maybole 4 36.26x
Old Luce 4 98.77x
Workington 4 16.77x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 3.58x
Anwoth 3 247.93x
Logie 3 38.51x
New Monkland 3 6.49x
Paisley Middle Church 3 13.74x
Renfrew 3 24.23x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.19x
Dryfesdale 2 40.57x
Erskine 2 73.53x
Glasgow 2 0.72x
Jura 2 151.52x
Kildalton Oa 2 952.38x
Kirkcudbright 2 34.48x
Liverpool 2 0.57x
Lochranza 2 10000.00x
Onchan 2 7.73x
Paisley 2 10000.00x
Paisley High Church 2 6.70x
Toxteth Park 2 1.03x
Barr 1 101.01x
Campbeltown 1 6.15x
Cheetham 1 2.34x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 9.52x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.38x
Gorbals 1 10.76x
Kilbirnie 1 11.49x
Kilchattan 1 109.89x
Kirkmaiden 1 24.57x
Knapdale South 1 21.60x
Largs 1 11.72x
Macclesfield 1 2.11x
Maryhill 1 3.26x
Middlesbrough W 1 416.67x
Minnigaff 1 38.02x
Mochrum 1 26.04x
New Luce 1 84.03x
Plumstead 1 1.82x
Slaley 1 140.85x
Sorbie 1 35.59x
South Leith 1 1.37x
Stevenston 1 10.59x
Troqueer 1 10.88x
Wigtown 1 27.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Bell 1
Christina 1
Dorah 1
Elena 1
Esther 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Janet 1
Magt. 1
Margret 1
Marion 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 4
James 3
John 3
Archibald 2
Alexr. 1
Charles 1
David 1
George 1
Hugh 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Thos. 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 Murchie households.

FAQ

Murchie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murchie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 494 people were recorded with the Murchie surname. That placed it at #6,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murchie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 542 in 2016. That gives Murchie a modern rank of #9,396.

What does the Murchie surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic term "muirbhtheach" meaning mariner or seaman.

What does the Murchie map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Murchie 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.