Family name also spelled MEURDRAC and MURDRAC.
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Ralph Murdac was one of the judges of Henry II and Richard I.
"Radulfus Murdac" donated "molendinum unum in Dedinto...Westmulle" to Eynsham abbey, for the soul of "avunculi mei Willelmi de Cheisnei”, by charter dated to between 1163 and 1180, witnessed by “...Waltero de Abetot, Radulfo de Wirecestria, Alexandro de Chein et Radulfo fratre suo”.
"Radulfus Murdac" donated "dimidiam hidam terre apud Filching", previously donated by “avus meus Radulfus Murdac”, to Eynsham abbey by charter dated to 1173/74.
“Ranulfus de Glamvilla” founded Leiston abbey, Suffolk by undated charter, witnessed by “...Willielmo de Valeines, Radulfo Murdac...”.
"Radulfus Murdac" donated his part "in molendino de Clifton" to Eynsham abbey, for the soul of "...Eue de Grai uxoris mee”, by charter dated 1192, witnessed by “...Simone Murdac...”. 1
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He appears as a justice itinerant in 30 Henry II. (Cf. Foss, “Lives of the Judges,” vol. i., p. 404), and was Sheriff of Notts and Derby from 27 Henry II. to 1 Richard I. During King Richard’s absence he joined John and was captured at Nottingham Castle with his brothers Philip and Ralph de Wigornia (Worcester). His manors were seized by the Crown, and he was compelled to pay a heavy fine to recover favour (Cf. Pipe Roll, Roger de Hovenden, vol. iii., p. 240, and Rot. Cancellarii, 3 John, p. 271). He was dead by 1 John (1199-1200), when that prince granted the custody of his lands and the marriage of his daughters to William Briwerre. (Rot. Claue., 486.)
A charter of his confirms to Eynsham the lands in Filkins which his grandfather (“avus meus”) Ralph Murdac gave them (Eynsham Cartulary, No. 91). The Eynsham Cartulary shews that he also possessed the manors of Deddington (formerly a manor of his uncle William de Chesney), Broughton and Burton, and that he had married, about 1190—1192, Eva de Grey, who brought with her the manors of Stanlak and Rotherfield (Cf. Eynsham Cart., Nos. 89, 90, 94). How the Meurdracs acquired the manors of Burton and Filkins I have not yet ascertained. But of his other manors Broughton was, as we have seen, a Murdrac manor, Deddington was a de Chesney manor, and Rotherfield and Stanlac were de Grey manors…. We may … note here that, at the time of the Testa de Nevill, his daughter Beatrice was holding Broughton, while Stanlac descended to his daughter Alice, the wife of Alan de Bocland, who had remarried Ralph Hareng by Easter, 26 Henry III. (Curia Regis Roll, 123, m. 7d).
The Rotuli de Dominabus of 1185 shews that Alice, sister of Ralph Meurdrac the Judge, had married John de Eincourt, the Lincolnshire Baron, as at that date their son Oliver de Eincourt, aged about 23 years, was in ward to his uncle Ralph Meurdrac. 2
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