Murray - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Muireadhaigh
Meaning: “lord of the sea”
Traditional stronghold: Roscommon, Down
Pronunciation: MUR-ee; Irish O Muireadhaigh: oh MWIR-uh-ee
History of the Murray name
The name derives from Muireadhach, an old personal name meaning 'mariner' or 'lord', and was borne by an ecclesiastical sept centred on Killala in Mayo and Sligo, hereditary keepers of church lands. A separate, more numerous origin lies in Scotland, where Murray denotes someone from the province of Moray, and many Scottish Murrays settled in Ulster during the Plantation, giving the name a second strong base there. Between its Connacht and Ulster roots, Murray became one of the most widespread surnames on the island, ranking among the twenty most common in Ireland today.
Variants: MacMurray · Murrey · Murrough
Famous bearers of the name
- Len Murray - British trade union leader of Irish descent
- Frank Murray - Irish music manager who worked with Thin Lizzy and the Pogues
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Kelly · O'Connor · Brennan · Flynn · Flanagan · Kenny · Moran · Naughton