The usage of distinctive surnames evolved in human history as population numbers increased. The application of surnames offered a further means of distinguishing one person from another, particularly as governing bodies considered a need to maintain better account of things they ‘owned’.
The origins of the surname MURDUCK are presently unknown. It first appears in the written documentary record from some parts of England in the mid to late 1500s.
Perhaps MURDUCK was derived from MURDOCH, which many believe had origins in some parts of Scotland. Perhaps it derived from MURDOCK, which is believed to have morphed from Murdoch as individuals migrated from Scotland to Ireland, and to parts of England.
Perhaps it had origins in France – instances of MARDOCK are known there today, or in some other part of Europe or Scandinavia, prior to being anglicized.
There is thought that the progenitor of a line originating from either upstate New York or Vermont, USA, who was born around 1780, changed his name from MurdOck to MurdUck after 1814. This man enlisted with US forces to fight British forces in the Niagara area, and he is thought to have deserted his post soon after. Could he have changed the basic spelling of his surname after 1814 as a mechanism for remaining hidden from authorities?
There’s much work to be done if we hope to begin to understand the various origins of this unique surname spelling. Join in if you can.