NameCensus.

UK surname

Murt

A medieval Irish surname derived from the old Gaelic word 'muir' meaning sea.

In the 1881 census there were 55 people recorded with the Murt surname, ranking it #25,862 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, up from #25,862 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Padstow, Phillack and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, West Lancashire and Wrexham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murt is 155 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 152.7%.

1881 census count

55

Ranked #25,862

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

2002

155 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murt had 55 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,862 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 115 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Murt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murt surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Murt 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 34 #29,685
1881 historical 55 #25,862
1891 historical 71 #27,934
1901 historical 101 #22,726
1911 historical 115 #20,951
1997 modern 146 #21,494
1998 modern 143 #22,317
1999 modern 141 #22,702
2000 modern 150 #21,781
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 148 #22,000
2005 modern 150 #21,786
2006 modern 145 #22,420
2007 modern 142 #23,025
2008 modern 146 #22,822
2009 modern 148 #23,141
2010 modern 148 #23,697
2011 modern 140 #24,395
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 145 #24,207
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 150 #23,718
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Murts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Padstow, Phillack, Gateshead, Falmouth and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, West Lancashire and Wrexham. 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 Padstow Cornwall
2 Phillack Cornwall
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Falmouth Cornwall
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 008 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 054 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 058 Cornwall
4 West Lancashire 004 West Lancashire
5 Wrexham 004 Wrexham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Murt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Murt

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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, Murt 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

Murt is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Murt falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Murt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 15-20 mbit/s.

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

3
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Murt

The surname Murt has its origins in the Gaelic language of Scotland and Ireland, where it was derived from the Old Irish word "muirt," meaning "strong" or "brave." This name likely emerged during the 6th or 7th century AD, a time when the Gaelic peoples were establishing their presence in what is now known as Scotland and Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Murt can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In an entry dated 1012 AD, a person named "Muirt mac Conchobair" is mentioned, indicating the use of the name during that period.

The name Murt has also been associated with several place names in Scotland and Ireland, such as Murthill in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and Muirtown, a suburb of Inverness, Scotland. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname Murt who lived or held land in those areas.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Robert Murt was recorded as a landowner in the Scottish county of Ayrshire. His name appears in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of documents from the reign of King Edward I of England that recorded the submission of Scottish noblemen and landowners.

Another prominent individual with the surname Murt was Sir William Murt, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. Sir William Murt played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

In the 16th century, a family by the name of Murt was well-established in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the region of Inverness-shire. One member of this family, Angus Murt, was a renowned poet and bard who composed works in both Scots Gaelic and English.

Moving forward to the 17th century, a man named John Murt gained recognition as a successful merchant and trader in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. His business ventures and contributions to the local economy earned him a respected reputation in the community.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Murt. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the strength and bravery associated with the Old Irish word "muirt."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Murt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murt 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. Cornwall leads with 39 Murts recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.23x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 39 64.23x
Durham 6 3.76x
Yorkshire 4 0.75x
Hampshire 3 2.73x
Lancashire 2 0.31x
Devon 1 0.90x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Ives in Cornwall leads with 22 Murts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1848.74x.

Place Total Index
St Ives 22 1848.74x
Phillack 9 1153.85x
Padstow 7 1750.00x
Westoe 6 66.30x
Portsea 3 13.92x
Temple Hirst 3 15000.00x
Toxteth Park 2 9.28x
Burn 1 1666.67x
Devonport 1 78.13x
Paul 1 90.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Ann 3
Elizabeth 3
Jane 2
Portia 2
Annie 1
Bessie 1
Candis 1
Catherine 1
Elizebeth 1
Fanny 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Nancy 1
Phipilia 1
S.Janie 1
Susanna 1
Theadora 1

Top male names

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

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 Murt households.

FAQ

Murt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 55 people were recorded with the Murt surname. That placed it at #25,862 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Murt a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Murt surname mean?

A medieval Irish surname derived from the old Gaelic word 'muir' meaning sea.

What does the Murt map show?

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