Find out how popular the last name Murch is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Murch.

Murch, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Murch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Murch in America

Murch is the 15931st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Murch surname appeared 1,824 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Murch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Murch to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Murch

The surname Murch is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "murc," meaning "murky" or "dark," potentially referring to someone with a swarthy complexion or someone who lived in a dark, wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Murch can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, including "Murch," "Murche," and "Myrch."

During the 13th century, the name Murch was particularly prevalent in the counties of Devon and Somerset in southwestern England. Several records from that period mention individuals bearing this surname, such as Robert Murch, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset in 1243.

The name Murch is also associated with various place names in England, such as Murchington in Shropshire and Murch Knoll in Devon. These place names may have influenced the surname or vice versa, as it was common for people to adopt surnames derived from the places they lived or worked.

Notable individuals with the surname Murch throughout history include:

1. John Murch (c. 1520-1592), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake for his religious beliefs during the reign of Mary I.

2. Walter Murch (born 1945), an acclaimed American film editor, sound designer, and director known for his work on films like "Apocalypse Now" and "The English Patient."

3. Arundel Murch (1892-1989), a British artist and sculptor known for his bronze statues and war memorials.

4. Benjamin Murch (1760-1841), an American shipbuilder and merchant from Maine who played a significant role in the state's maritime industry.

5. Jeremias Andrew Murch (1827-1905), an American Congregational minister and abolitionist who served as the president of Oberlin College from 1867 to 1888.

While the surname Murch may not be as widespread as some others, it has a rich history spanning centuries and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including religious figures, artists, and entrepreneurs.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Murch

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Murch.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Murch was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Murch has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Murch was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Murch, please contact us.

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