Origins of the Family Name
"MacMurchy", "McMurchy" or "M'Murchy" ? "Mac", Gaelic for "son", is the most common element of Scottish surnames. "Mc" is always an abbreviation of "Mac", it also used to be abbreviated "M'" although this spelling is now not common. In an early records, we can find our family name spelt in all three fashions. Black's THE SURNAMES OF SCOTLAND and MacLysaght's THE SURNAMES OF IRELAND both treat "Mac" the same way -- as the only and original spelling. This same approach is used here. "Mac" is always considered an addition to a name. Before there was a "Murdo's Son" there was a "Murdo". In Scotland names beginning with "Mac" are traditionally alphabetized under the first letter of the second name "Mac Alister" under "A", "Mac Zinc" under "Z". After 1745 to avoid reprisals many Anglicised their name by dropping the "Mac", or as they emmigrated (were cleared off the land ), "Mac Ball" becoming simply "Ball". Nova Scotia's Kinzie River was settled by Mac Kenzies.
The crest show at right is that of the MacDonalds (Glencoe). To date, I have never seen any MacMurchy crest. Here's another account of the origin of the family's name. George F. Black: The Surnames of Scotland, New York 1946, Edinburgh 1993 MACMURCHIE, MACMURCHY. The ch is guttural G. MacMhurchaidh, 'son of Murdo,' or 'MURDOCH,' q.v. A sept known as Siolachadh Mhurchaidh, said to have been descended from one Murdoch, a natural son of Angus Mor of Islay, was formerly numerous in North Uist (Clan' Donald, III, P. 366). In Kintyre and at Shisken in Arran MacMhurchaidh becomes 'Ac Furchaidh' (f taking the sound of mh), and at Southend in Arran 'Ac 'Urchaidh (TGSI., XXI, p. 238). Kathel Macmurchy was one of an inquest at Dumbarton, on the lands of Polnegulan, 1259 (Bain, I, 2174; APS., I, p. 89 ) . Evyne Makmurche was procurator for Janet Ogilvy of Dundee, 1492, and in 1500, as Owin M'Murquhe, he filled the same office for James Scrymgeour (HP., II, p. 190, 199). In 1498 the goods of Rury Gar Makteir Makmurquhy were distrained (OPS., II p. 527). John McMurchie was tenant of Kildallag, Kintyre, 1508 (ER., XII, p. 707), Andreas McMorthv was one of the king's tenants in Strathdee, 1527, and Gillecrist Makworricht or Makmoriche was charter witness in Stratherne, Perthshire, 1529-30 (RMS., III, 861, 931). William McMurthe and John McMurthe were tenants of Feris, 1539 (ER., XVII, p. 668). In 1541 Sir Murdoch 'McMoroquhy (a cleric) was tenant of Arealach or Arealaith, Islay, Neil McMurkka tenant of Kilcavane, there, and Nicholl McMurroquhy, tenant of Bairrepoill, Tiree (ibid., .XVII, p. 614 , 620 , 641). John McDonald McMurquhe is in record in Dornoch, 1568, and John Oig McMurquhie was a 'leiche' or 'doctour of medicine' in Islay, 1615 (Cawdor, P. 234). The tombstone of the famous old cateran Donald MacMurchie (who was really a Macleod) is in the old churchyard near Balmakill, parish of Durness, Sutherland. It reads: Donald Mackmurchou hier lyis lo was il to his freind var to his fo true to his maister in veird and vo, 1623, that is "Donald Macmurchou here lies low, was ill to his friend, worse to his foe, true to his master in weird and woe." Gillicallum McWorthie or McVorchie in Abose was put to the horn (outlawed), 1629 (RPC., 2. ser. u, p. 341;III, p. 46). Kenneth ),McCurchie and DodMcConill rov vic Curchie were engagers on the royalist side from the parish of Urquhart, 1649 ( IDR., p.368) ' Angus McCurchie and Normand McWurchie in North Galson, Normand McOil Vic Urchv in Comernihawn, John McUrchie Ken Roy in Shabost, Malcolm McUrchy in Neather Bible, and Finlav McVurchie in Eroble are in record, 1726-27 (HP., II). VcErichie 1655, VcMurrochie and VicWurchie 1649, WicWurchie 1651. In Kintvre pronounced Macmurchie (ch gutt.) and as Macmurtchie (ch as in church), and without 'Mac' as Murchie or Murtchie. A Domhnull MacMhurchaidh in Islay Englished his name Donald Murdoch.
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When reading the article about the "MacMurchy family reunion
1941" you will see the family's account of the origin. It is as follows. "The
McMurchy family had sprung from the MacDonald Clan and the name McMurchy had originated in
the marriage of a member of the MacDonald clan and a member of the Murdoch
Clan." Murdoch came to Yorkshire prior to 1066 by Norsemen of Irish descent.
The coat of arms show at left is that of the Murdoch.
"Mac" takes a variety of pronunciations. In Islay
Gaelic, "Mac" is pronounced like ( mek ). In the United States it can be heard
as ( mick ). Preceding a ( k ) or ( g ) sound, the final ( k ) of "Mac"
disappears. It became the practice in the south of Scotland to write two words as one (
Mac Han ) to ( Machan ); ( Mac Grath ) to ( Magrath ). The ( k ) sound of "Mac"
is duplicated and attached to the front of a following word if it begins in a vowel ( Mac
Ash ) to ( Mac Cash ). If the second name begins with a ( k ) or ( g ), creating two ( k )
sounds together, one may disappear ( Mac Kintosh to Macintosh ), ( Mac Kaskill to Mac
Askill ). "Mac'. is at times pronounced "muck" and written that way (Mac
'Il Roy to Muckleroy ). 