NameCensus.

UK surname

Murdock

A Scottish and Irish surname derived from a place meaning "the fortified hill of the dock or dark stream."

In the 1881 census there were 1,076 people recorded with the Murdock surname, ranking it #3,684 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 884, ranked #6,377, down from #3,684 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murdock is 1,503 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.8%.

1881 census count

1,076

Ranked #3,684

Modern count

884

2016, ranked #6,377

Peak year

1911

1,503 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murdock had 1,076 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,684 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 884 in 2016, ranked #6,377.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,503 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Murdock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murdock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Murdock 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 555 #4,565
1861 historical 560 #4,704
1881 historical 1,076 #3,684
1891 historical 1,136 #3,747
1901 historical 1,396 #3,602
1911 historical 1,503 #3,207
1997 modern 858 #6,191
1998 modern 887 #6,231
1999 modern 868 #6,380
2000 modern 829 #6,586
2001 modern 790 #6,707
2002 modern 794 #6,818
2003 modern 791 #6,710
2004 modern 798 #6,684
2005 modern 793 #6,656
2006 modern 781 #6,759
2007 modern 801 #6,679
2008 modern 830 #6,551
2009 modern 873 #6,429
2010 modern 913 #6,325
2011 modern 875 #6,465
2012 modern 868 #6,420
2013 modern 882 #6,445
2014 modern 900 #6,372
2015 modern 879 #6,423
2016 modern 884 #6,377

Geography

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Where Murdocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland and Allerdale. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 005 Copeland
2 Copeland 002 Copeland
3 Allerdale 004 Allerdale
4 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
5 Copeland 003 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Murdock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Murdock

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Murdock, 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 Murdock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Murdock 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Murdock is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Murdock is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Murdock 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 Murdock 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Murdock

The surname Murdock has its origins in the ancient Scottish Gaelic language, derived from the personal name "Muireadhach," which means "lord" or "superior." The name is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands during the Middle Ages.

Murdock is a variant spelling of the more common Murdoch, with the latter being the anglicized version of the original Gaelic name. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval Scottish records and manuscripts, often referring to prominent individuals from noble or aristocratic families.

One of the earliest known references to the name Murdock can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. Among the names listed is that of Gilbert Murdoch, a landowner from Ayrshire.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, with mentions of individuals such as John Murdoch, who served as a clerk in the Scottish royal court during the reign of King David II (1329-1371).

The Murdock surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history, including Sir Walter Murdoch (1553-1639), a Scottish soldier and diplomat who served under King James VI of Scotland and I of England. Another prominent Murdock was William Murdoch (1754-1839), a Scottish engineer and inventor who is credited with inventing the first gas lighting system.

In the literary world, the name Murdoch is perhaps most famously associated with Iris Murdoch (1919-1999), the renowned British novelist and philosopher. Her works, including "Under the Net" and "The Sea, The Sea," earned her critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.

Other notable individuals with the Murdock surname include John Murdock (1792-1871), an early leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a close associate of Joseph Smith, and Marshall Murdock (1836-1899), a prominent American businessman and financier who played a significant role in the development of the petroleum industry.

While the Murdock surname originated in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with significant populations in the United States, Canada, and other countries with Scottish diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Murdock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murdock 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. Lancashire leads with 266 Murdocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.12x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 266 2.12x
Lanarkshire 98 2.87x
Yorkshire 75 0.72x
Surrey 56 1.09x
Middlesex 51 0.48x
Durham 44 1.40x
Leicestershire 42 3.58x
Kent 37 1.03x
Ayrshire 35 4.42x
Midlothian 35 2.47x
Cumberland 25 2.75x
Sussex 24 1.35x
Kincardineshire 17 13.20x
Cheshire 16 0.69x
Berkshire 15 1.89x
Derbyshire 15 0.91x
Nottinghamshire 15 1.05x
Aberdeenshire 13 1.33x
Fife 12 1.92x
Glamorgan 11 0.60x
Hampshire 11 0.51x
Bedfordshire 10 1.83x
Wigtownshire 10 7.12x
Devon 9 0.41x
Norfolk 9 0.55x
Northumberland 9 0.57x
Shropshire 9 0.99x
Westmorland 9 3.87x
Stirlingshire 8 2.05x
Angus 7 0.71x
Essex 7 0.34x
Gloucestershire 6 0.29x
Huntingdonshire 6 2.86x
Warwickshire 6 0.23x
Banffshire 5 2.28x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.78x
Clackmannanshire 5 5.73x
Dumfriesshire 5 2.14x
Lincolnshire 5 0.30x
Renfrewshire 5 0.61x
Royal Navy 5 3.97x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 2.61x
Suffolk 4 0.31x
Inverness-shire 3 0.95x
Northamptonshire 3 0.30x
Somerset 3 0.18x
Buteshire 2 3.12x
Isle of Man 2 1.02x
Rutland 2 2.58x
Anglesey 1 0.53x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.22x
Channel Islands 1 0.32x
Dorset 1 0.14x
Monmouthshire 1 0.13x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x
West Lothian 1 0.63x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 38 Murdocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.99x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 38 4.99x
Leicester St Margaret 31 10.84x
Govan 29 3.43x
Everton 26 6.50x
Glasgow 25 4.12x
Brightside Bierlow 22 10.70x
Toxteth Park 22 5.18x
Barony 21 2.43x
Leeds 21 3.55x
Barrow In Furness 19 11.13x
Kirkdale 18 8.53x
Hulme 17 6.49x
Bermondsey 15 4.76x
Manchester 15 2.66x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 14 2.46x
Banchory Devenick 13 108.06x
Camberwell 12 1.78x
Cambuslang 12 34.80x
Birkenhead 11 5.91x
Garston 11 29.71x
Preston 11 3.28x
Gillingham 10 13.44x
Hastings St Mary 10 22.54x
Oldham 10 2.47x
Stapleford 10 86.36x
Stockton On Tees 10 6.59x
Tonbridge 10 7.69x
Whitehaven 10 20.61x
Bedford St Mary 9 63.83x
Stoneykirk 9 89.64x
Cardiff St Mary 8 7.89x
Ferry Port On Craig 8 77.67x
Maybole 8 33.20x
Portsea 8 1.88x
St Pancras London 8 0.94x
Beeston 7 66.04x
Chester Le Street 7 28.97x
Dundee 7 1.91x
Heaton Norris 7 9.80x
Heigham 7 8.02x
Kilmarnock 7 7.43x
Kirknewton 7 171.99x
Layton With Warbreck 7 15.20x
Newington 7 1.79x
Arlingham 6 264.32x
Birmingham 6 0.68x
Earley 6 45.39x
Egremont 6 27.64x
Failsworth 6 20.90x
Friern Barnet 6 25.76x
Gorbals 6 29.56x
Moss Side 6 9.09x
Muirkirk 6 32.29x
Southwark St John 6 18.55x
Stanton By Dale 6 265.49x
Wokingham 6 33.11x
Woodstone 6 180.72x
Alloa 5 11.81x
Belgrave 5 18.90x
Brighton 5 1.39x
Deptford St Paul 5 1.80x
Edinburgh Greenside 5 26.71x
Great Clifton 5 141.64x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 3.67x
Horton In Bradford 5 3.06x
Islington London 5 0.49x
Kendal 5 11.75x
Lambeth 5 0.54x
Langley Marish 5 63.69x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.36x
Riccarton Hurlford 5 36.02x
Sculcoates 5 3.01x
Southwick 5 16.78x
St Ninians 5 12.93x
Brimington 4 31.82x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 2.01x
Clayton Le Moors 4 16.43x
Leicester All Sts 4 17.38x
Royal Navy 4 3.71x
Withycombe Rawleigh 4 34.87x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 54
John 52
James 33
Thomas 32
George 16
Robert 16
Edward 12
Alexander 10
Charles 10
David 10
Henry 9
Arthur 7
Richard 7
Andrew 6
Joseph 6
Patrick 6
Archibald 5
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Samuel 5
Thos. 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Francis 4
Frederick 4
Alfred 3
Hugh 3
Isaac 3
Wm. 3
Allen 2
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
Herbert 2
Jas. 2
Peter 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Alexr. 1
Barnet 1
Benjamin 1
Bertrand 1
Donald 1
Duncan 1
E.G. 1
E.J.C. 1
Earnest 1
Edith 1
Harold 1
Isac 1
Jannis 1

FAQ

Murdock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murdock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,076 people were recorded with the Murdock surname. That placed it at #3,684 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murdock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 884 in 2016. That gives Murdock a modern rank of #6,377.

What does the Murdock surname mean?

A Scottish and Irish surname derived from a place meaning "the fortified hill of the dock or dark stream."

What does the Murdock map show?

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