NameCensus.

UK surname

Murgatroyd

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Lancashire meaning "moor cottage settlement".

In the 1881 census there were 2,257 people recorded with the Murgatroyd surname, ranking it #1,973 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,734, ranked #3,607, down from #1,973 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Halifax and Bingley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murgatroyd is 2,544 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.2%.

1881 census count

2,257

Ranked #1,973

Modern count

1,734

2016, ranked #3,607

Peak year

1901

2,544 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murgatroyd had 2,257 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,973 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,734 in 2016, ranked #3,607.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,544 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Murgatroyd surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murgatroyd surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Murgatroyd 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 1,351 #2,128
1861 historical 1,132 #2,481
1881 historical 2,257 #1,973
1891 historical 2,001 #2,304
1901 historical 2,544 #2,162
1911 historical 2,477 #2,073
1997 modern 1,814 #3,308
1998 modern 1,895 #3,299
1999 modern 1,882 #3,349
2000 modern 1,867 #3,349
2001 modern 1,830 #3,343
2002 modern 1,844 #3,390
2003 modern 1,777 #3,430
2004 modern 1,770 #3,448
2005 modern 1,738 #3,471
2006 modern 1,727 #3,502
2007 modern 1,748 #3,496
2008 modern 1,755 #3,506
2009 modern 1,800 #3,507
2010 modern 1,800 #3,566
2011 modern 1,787 #3,552
2012 modern 1,745 #3,560
2013 modern 1,799 #3,532
2014 modern 1,779 #3,576
2015 modern 1,763 #3,575
2016 modern 1,734 #3,607

Geography

Back to top

Where Murgatroyds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Halifax, Bingley, Bradford and Keighley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bingley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 008 Bradford
2 Bradford 058 Bradford
3 Bradford 019 Bradford
4 Bradford 045 Bradford
5 Bradford 015 Bradford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Murgatroyd

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Murgatroyd

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Murgatroyd surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Murgatroyd household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Murgatroyd is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Murgatroyd is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Murgatroyd 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 Murgatroyd 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 Murgatroyd, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Murgatroyd

The surname Murgatroyd has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from a place name near Halifax in West Yorkshire, which was originally spelled as "Murganthorpe." The name is thought to be a combination of Old English words, with "Murga" meaning a boundary or border, and "thorpe" referring to a small village or hamlet.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Murgatroyd can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where it appears as "Morganthorpe." This suggests that the name had already been in use for some time before that date. Another early reference is in the Wakefield Court Rolls of 1397, where a man named John Murgatroyd is mentioned.

During the Middle Ages, the Murgatroyd family was primarily concentrated in the areas around Halifax and Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. The name appeared in various spellings, such as Murganthorpe, Murgatroyd, Murgitroyd, and Murgytroid, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings at the time.

One notable Murgatroyd in history was William Murgatroyd, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a successful merchant and landowner in Halifax, owning several properties in the area. Another Murgatroyd of note was Reverend Thomas Murgatroyd (1701-1778), a clergyman in the Church of England who served as the rector of Sowerby near Halifax.

In the 18th century, the Murgatroyd family expanded beyond Yorkshire, with some members moving to other parts of England and even migrating to North America. John Murgatroyd (1738-1804) was a prominent figure in the early days of the American Revolution, serving as a member of the Pennsylvania Militia and participating in several battles.

Another influential Murgatroyd was Sir William Murgatroyd (1809-1887), a British industrialist and politician. He founded a successful textile manufacturing company in Yorkshire and served as a Member of Parliament for several years. His son, Sir John Murgatroyd (1843-1924), also played a role in the family business and was knighted for his philanthropic work.

Throughout history, the surname Murgatroyd has maintained a strong presence in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas, while also spreading to other parts of the world through migration and family connections. Despite its relatively uncommon nature, the name has endured and continues to hold a place in the rich tapestry of English surname history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Murgatroyd families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murgatroyd 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,863 Murgatroyds recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.57x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,863 8.57x
Lancashire 254 0.98x
Middlesex 24 0.11x
Lincolnshire 18 0.51x
Cheshire 15 0.31x
Surrey 13 0.12x
Roxburghshire 12 3.02x
Oxfordshire 8 0.59x
Wiltshire 8 0.41x
Northumberland 6 0.18x
Durham 5 0.08x
Kent 5 0.07x
Shropshire 5 0.26x
Derbyshire 3 0.09x
Leicestershire 3 0.12x
Westmorland 3 0.62x
Cornwall 2 0.08x
Cumberland 2 0.11x
Somerset 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Idle in Yorkshire leads with 140 Murgatroyds recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.82x.

Place Total Index
Idle 140 138.82x
Horton In Bradford 129 37.98x
Bradford 124 23.55x
Bingley 122 88.08x
Keighley 119 51.33x
Halifax 106 33.20x
Warley 73 116.13x
Gomersal 61 60.09x
Manningham 59 22.02x
Shipley 59 52.27x
Leeds 47 3.83x
Oldham 46 5.47x
Hunslet 43 12.68x
Bowling 42 19.50x
Wortley In Bramley 41 23.80x
Midgley 40 172.56x
Baildon 37 90.35x
Haworth 31 59.96x
Dewsbury 29 13.00x
North Bierley 27 22.99x
Shelf 26 125.18x
Wakefield 20 11.98x
Yeadon 20 40.72x
Hipperholme Cum 19 19.88x
Newchurch 19 8.92x
Heaton 18 77.02x
Eccleshill 17 32.12x
Clifton In Halifax 16 123.08x
Broughton In Salford 15 6.30x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 14 17.72x
Farnley In Bramley 14 51.57x
Ovenden 14 14.46x
Pudsey 14 12.04x
Bury 13 4.37x
Rastrick 13 21.52x
Southowram 13 19.58x
Hawick 12 13.49x
Didsbury 11 31.81x
Knottingley 11 28.77x
Salford 11 1.44x
Everton 10 1.20x
Heckmondwike 10 14.30x
Moss Side 10 7.30x
Northowram 10 6.56x
York St Mary 10 11.10x
Batley 9 4.35x
Ecclesfield 9 5.64x
Holbeck 9 6.25x
Knutsford Over 9 292.21x
Legbourne 9 251.40x
Manchester 9 0.77x
Saddleworth 9 5.36x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 1.41x
Bolton In Bradford 8 57.39x
Croydon 8 1.35x
Halliwell 8 8.44x
Horbury 8 21.03x
Oxford St Ebbe 8 20.06x
Spotland 8 2.76x
Swindon 8 5.31x
Almondbury 7 6.66x
Bethnal Green London 7 0.73x
Denby 7 59.63x
Dodworth 7 30.99x
Great Grimsby 7 3.14x
Great Little Marsden 7 5.87x
Little Smeaton In 7 321.10x
Pontefract 7 14.94x
Scarborough 7 3.54x
Brightside Bierlow 6 1.41x
Cheetham 6 3.09x
Islington London 6 0.28x
Menston 6 120.72x
Morley 6 5.31x
North Meols 6 2.35x
Pendleton In Salford 6 1.93x
Skircoat 6 7.00x
Sutton In Doncaster 6 869.57x
Thornton In Bradford 6 8.29x
Wardleworth 6 4.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 171
Sarah 115
Hannah 71
Elizabeth 65
Ann 49
Martha 45
Annie 44
Emma 38
Alice 34
Eliza 28
Jane 27
Ellen 22
Emily 21
Clara 19
Harriet 18
Ada 17
Betty 15
Maria 13
Florence 12
Louisa 12
Margaret 12
Grace 11
Edith 10
Harriett 9
Rebecca 8
Fanny 7
Ruth 7
Susannah 7
Amy 6
Anne 6
Elizth. 6
Esther 6
Ethel 6
Frances 6
Matilda 6
Nancy 6
Sophia 6
Caroline 5
Eleanor 5
Isabella 5
Kate 5
Lucy 5
Lydia 5
Priscilla 5
Agnes 4
Amelia 4
Beatrice 4
Lavinia 4
Minnie 4
Phoebe 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 140
James 101
William 86
Joseph 72
Thomas 63
George 41
Henry 28
Samuel 27
Robert 23
Arthur 21
Charles 20
Albert 19
Fred 19
Harry 17
Alfred 15
Benjamin 14
David 13
Frank 13
Richard 13
Walter 12
Francis 11
Frederick 10
Tom 10
Wm. 10
Abraham 9
Edward 9
Herbert 9
Jonas 7
Joshua 7
Ernest 6
Joe 6
Thos. 6
Willie 5
Ben 4
Hiram 4
Isaac 4
Matthew 4
Oliver 4
Wilfred 4
Christopher 3
Eli 3
Geo. 3
Jesse 3
Jno. 3
Louis 3
Luke 3
Moses 3
Noah 3
Roger 3
Seth 3

FAQ

Murgatroyd surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murgatroyd surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,257 people were recorded with the Murgatroyd surname. That placed it at #1,973 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murgatroyd surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,734 in 2016. That gives Murgatroyd a modern rank of #3,607.

What does the Murgatroyd surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Lancashire meaning "moor cottage settlement".

What does the Murgatroyd map show?

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