The Murdaugh family of South Carolina has been making headlines for the past year, following the brutal murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, the wife and son of prominent lawyer Alex Murdaugh. Alex himself was later charged with their killings, as well as several other crimes, including embezzlement, insurance fraud, and hiring a hitman to kill him
But who is Alex Murdaugh, and is he related to another famous Murdoch in the media world? Many people have wondered if there is any connection between Alex Murdaugh and Rupert Murdoch, the Australian-born American billionaire who owns News Corp, Fox News, and other media outlets.
The answer is no. Despite the similarity in their last names, Alex Murdaugh and Rupert Murdoch are not related by blood or marriage. They have different origins, backgrounds, and spellings of their surnames. Here are some of the differences between the two men:
Origin and Background
Alex Murdaugh is a member of a prominent legal family in South Carolina’s Lowcountry region. His great-grandfather, grandfather, and father all served as the top prosecutor for a five-county area for over 80 years. The Murdaugh family also founded a law firm that specialized in personal injury cases
Rupert Murdoch is the son of Sir Keith Murdoch, a famous Australian war correspondent and publisher. He studied at Oxford University and worked as an editor on a London newspaper before returning to Australia to take over his father’s media empire. He later expanded his business to the UK, the US, and other countries, acquiring hundreds of newspapers, magazines, TV channels, and book publishers
Spelling and Meaning of Surname
Alex Murdaugh’s surname is spelled with an “a” in the middle and pronounced “mur-daw”. According to Ancestry.com, the name Murdaugh is of Irish origin and means “son of Murchadh”, a personal name derived from “muir” (sea) and “cath” (battle)
Rupert Murdoch’s surname is spelled with an “o” in the middle and pronounced “mur-dok”. According to Ancestry.com, the name Murdoch is of Scottish origin and means “son of Murchadh”, a personal name derived from “muir” (sea) and “cadh” (warrior)
Conclusion
Alex Murdaugh and Rupert Murdoch are two very different men who share nothing but a similar-sounding surname. They are not related by blood or marriage, nor do they have any business or personal ties. The Murdaugh-Murdoch mystery is nothing but a coincidence.
