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

Murgatroyd, 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 Murgatroyd surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Murgatroyd in America

Murgatroyd is the 72105th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Murgatroyd surname appeared 270 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Murgatroyd.

We can also compare 2010 data for Murgatroyd 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 Murgatroyd

The surname Murgatroyd has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from a place name near Halifax in West Yorkshire, which was originally spelled as "Murganthorpe." The name is thought to be a combination of Old English words, with "Murga" meaning a boundary or border, and "thorpe" referring to a small village or hamlet.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Murgatroyd can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where it appears as "Morganthorpe." This suggests that the name had already been in use for some time before that date. Another early reference is in the Wakefield Court Rolls of 1397, where a man named John Murgatroyd is mentioned.

During the Middle Ages, the Murgatroyd family was primarily concentrated in the areas around Halifax and Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. The name appeared in various spellings, such as Murganthorpe, Murgatroyd, Murgitroyd, and Murgytroid, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings at the time.

One notable Murgatroyd in history was William Murgatroyd, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a successful merchant and landowner in Halifax, owning several properties in the area. Another Murgatroyd of note was Reverend Thomas Murgatroyd (1701-1778), a clergyman in the Church of England who served as the rector of Sowerby near Halifax.

In the 18th century, the Murgatroyd family expanded beyond Yorkshire, with some members moving to other parts of England and even migrating to North America. John Murgatroyd (1738-1804) was a prominent figure in the early days of the American Revolution, serving as a member of the Pennsylvania Militia and participating in several battles.

Another influential Murgatroyd was Sir William Murgatroyd (1809-1887), a British industrialist and politician. He founded a successful textile manufacturing company in Yorkshire and served as a Member of Parliament for several years. His son, Sir John Murgatroyd (1843-1924), also played a role in the family business and was knighted for his philanthropic work.

Throughout history, the surname Murgatroyd has maintained a strong presence in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas, while also spreading to other parts of the world through migration and family connections. Despite its relatively uncommon nature, the name has endured and continues to hold a place in the rich tapestry of English surname history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Murgatroyd

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

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 Murgatroyd 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 Murgatroyd 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 Murgatroyd was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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