Map of Scotland showing where the Murdock arms are recorded
The Murdock arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Scotland when the Murdock arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Murdock Family in Scotland
The surname Murdock is a variation of the Gaelic name Muiredach, which translates to sea warrior or lord of the sea. This name has deep roots in the Scottish Highlands and the western islands, where families often identified themselves by their connection to the coastal landscape. By the mid-eighteenth century, the name had spread well beyond its ancestral territories and established a firm presence in the growing urban center of Edinburgh. Records from 1748 show that members of the Murdock family were active participants in the city's social and economic life during a period of significant modernization. These early residents were part of a larger migration of Highlanders moving into the capital, helping to shape the professional and cultural identity of the city during the Scottish Enlightenment.
Murdock Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Muiredach
Derived from the Gaelic elements for sea and lord or warrior.
This name
MurdockA Scottish surname meaning sea warrior or lord of the sea.
also spelled
Murdo
Murdock
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Burgh Register of Sasines, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
