The Muir surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 11,130 people carried this name — #3,245 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 26,500 people counted. That is up 2% from 10,863 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Muir surname

From Scots muir (“moor”). A derivation from Scottish Gaelic muir (“ocean”) has also been suggested.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Muir» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 5 births for the Muir name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 200 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 3
Munster 2

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 43 people named Muir live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 29
City of Buenos Aires 14

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 22 people named Muir.

Most of them — 13 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 3 départements, most often Somme.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 13
Somme 4
Paris 3
Hauts-de-Seine 2

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Poland’s population register

20 people named Muir have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 50 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 2 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Pomeranian.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Pomeranian 11
Lesser Poland 9

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In the Nordic population registers

49 people named Muir is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 49

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland, 1880s

Muir was 29 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 345. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Ayrshire and Dumfriesshire.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 593 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Muir was recorded 266 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 65th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 441. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Muir in American newspapers,
1890–1911.

Newspaper page from The White Mountain Echo And Tourist's Register carrying the name Muir
The White Mountain Echo And Tourist's Register 1897-07-31
Newspaper page from Tensas Gazette carrying the name Muir
Tensas Gazette 1911-02-24
Newspaper page from Griggs Courier carrying the name Muir
Griggs Courier 1890-03-21

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 4,010 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Muir in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

117,627 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Muir. The most, 22,415, date from the 1930s. Queensland has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 2.0 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 30,767
New South Wales 28,415
Victoria 23,695
Western Australia 20,879
South Australia 6,294
Tasmania 5,438
ACT (Canberra) 1,666
Northern Territory 171

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Muir.

Who carried it

People named Muir,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William Muir
    William Muir 1819–1905 · writer
  • Alexander Muir
    Alexander Muir 1830–1906 · songwriter
  • John Muir
    John Muir 1838–1914 · naturalist
  • Thomas Muir
    Thomas Muir 1844–1934 · mathematician
  • Jean Miller Muir
    Jean Miller Muir 1861–1941

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 177 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Muir,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,352 records

2,352 records of the Muir name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 687
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 493
  • Other U.S. records 1,172
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Robert W. Muir

    Born 1916 in California. Enlisted 1943 at Los Angeles; checker from Los Angeles County. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1990, buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Thomas Wayne Muir

    Born 1951; from Baltimore, Maryland. U.S. Army; killed in action 1970 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam. Buried at Baltimore National Cemetery, Maryland.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Annie Muir

    Arrived at New York in 1882 aboard the Germanic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 33; servant. From Glasgow, Scotland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 2,352 records for Muir in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia3,576 records

3,576 records of the Muir name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,794
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 597
  • Other Australian records 1,185
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Daniel Muir

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Marquis of Hastings, sailing from Portsmouth in 1839. Native of Glasgow, Lanarkshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1856.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Euphemia Muir

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Emma Eugenia, sailing from London in 1850. Native of Airdrie, Lanarkshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1852.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Clarence Begeant Muir

    Died 1925 in Wynyard, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1926.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 3,576 records for Muir in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada758 records

758 records of the Muir name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 446
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 79
  • Other Canadian records 233
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Muir

    Came to Ontario in 1879 aboard the Sardinian, landing at Halifax, bound for London, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Gilbert Muir

    Killed in 1924 at the Albion Mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Beatrice Muir

    Buried in 1982 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 97.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 758 records for Muir in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom256 records

256 records of the Muir name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 173
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 55
  • Other British records 28
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record George Muir

    Born 1886 at Elgin; ironmonger. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jane Thomson Muir

    Died 2000, aged 88; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Richard Muir

    Will proved in 1923; of Bangor, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 256 records for Muir in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand90 records

90 records of the Muir name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 58
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 18
  • Other New Zealand records 14
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Archibald McMillan Muir

    Died 1969, aged 65; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James Muir

    Died 1906, aged 48; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Fanny Muir

    Buried in 1948 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 70.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 90 records for Muir in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France7 records

7 records of the Muir name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Gerald Nugunt Muir

    Born 1913 in Great Britain; died 1995 in Mont-Dore (Puy-de-Dôme).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Anita Monica Muir

    Born 1928 in Ireland; died 1998 in Fréjus (Var).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 7 records for Muir in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands4 records

4 records of the Muir name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  • Dutch population registers 1
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Irene Mary Pottinger Muir

    Married in 1936 in Amsterdam.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Jacob Muir

    Baptised in 1647 in Bergen op Zoom.

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Muir in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Muir.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Muir is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Muir volume
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