Surname Murie - Meaning and Origin

Murie: What does the surname Murie mean?

The surname Murie is of Scottish origin, based on a place named Marie or Mury in Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "muir," which means "sea." Its exact geographic origin within Scotland is uncertain, with some evidence linking it to Aberdeenshire in the northeast part of the country and other records relating it to Lanarkshire in the central Lowlands. As with many surnames, it has likely evolved and been spelled in various ways over time, including Mure, Muir, Murrey, and Mury among others. Names derived from geographic features were often used to identify where a family lived, so the Murie surname might have been initially given to those living by the sea. The name Murie may also indicate connection to the prominent Muir family in Scotland's history. Today, individuals bear this surname around the globe due to migrations and the diaspora of Scottish people.

Murie: Where does the name Murie come from?

The surname Murie is most common in Scotland where it originated in the 12th century. It was initially given to someone from Murray, a place-name derived from the Gaelic Muir which means ‘sea’ or ‘a large body of water’. The name also carries a Norman French origin as the de Mora family descended from a Norman nobleman in Scotland.

Today, the last name Murie is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland and in Northern Ireland. In England, it is generally more popular in the North of the country, including in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Records from the 1881 UK Census indicate that Murie was the 49th most frequent surname in Scotland.

Globally, the name Murie is generally found in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and the United States. In the United States, the name has been most popular in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan, and Virginia. The last name is also present in New Zealand.

The surname Murie has been carried down through the generations and continues to be found in Scotland and Northern Ireland in particular. It can also be found around the world, particularly in countries with previous links to the UK, as a result of migration and emigration.

Variations of the surname Murie

The Murie surname can be spelt in several different ways such as Mury, Murry, Murye, Morrow and Murrie. Variants of the surname are spelling variations created by mistakes and misapprehensions when translating Scottish and Irish surnames into English.

The Murie surname originated in Scotland and is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic MacMhuirich clan. The clan had hereditary Bards to the Erskine family and other clans, and they were centred in Argyll in western Scotland. Members of the clan were found in many parts of Scotland.

The Murie surname has many variant spellings in Scotland. In 1881 Scotland Census records, reported variations include Murry, Morry, Mury, Murye, Morrow, Murie, Murrey and Murri. Other variants can also be found, such as Murrill, Merrri, Murey, Muriell, Murr, Murree, Mourry, Muirrie and Mourie.

The spelling variations were even more pronounced when the name was adopted in other countries like Canada, Australia and the United States. Other variants of the Murie surname include Merrie, Mowrey, Merrie, Muir, Muriel, Morrill, Merril, Moir and Mowry.

The Murrie surname remains common in Scotland and other countries where the immigrant Scottish and Irish families settled. It also has many prominent figures associated with it, such as British physicist and historian, Professor David Murry, who was one of the founding fathers of the modern scientific age.

Famous people with the name Murie

• Olaus Murie: Olaus Murie was a renowned American naturalist and conservationist from the early 1900s. He studied Arctic wildlife and helped initiate the formation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Project.
• Margaret Murie: Margaret Murie was Olaus Murie's wife and also a celebrated conservationist. She was involved in the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964 and was a voice for Alaska's indigenous people.
• Ruth Murie: Ruth Murie was a biologist and wilderness enthusiast who wrote several books about the Alaskan tundra. Many of her works focused on animal migrations and the need to protect them.
• Barry Murie: Barry Murie was a paleontologist and evolutionary biologist who was an authority on birds and other animals. He released numerous books and studies about the impact of human activity on indigenous species.
• Donald Murie: Donald Murie was an ornithologist and explorer who wrote many books on migratory birds and other species. He is credited with the discovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in Twin Lakes, Florida.
• Kathryn Murie: Kathryn Murie was a conservationist and environmentalist who wrote several books about life on the Alaskan tundra. She also wrote a novel about the plight of Arctic animals.
• Beverly Murie: Beverly Murie was a primatologist and author who wrote several books on the behavior of primates. She was an advocate of animal rights and helped to protect endangered species.
• John Murie: John Murie was an environmental activist and founder of the Sierra Club Canada. He is credited with helping to protect the Great Bear Rainforest and was honored with the Order of British Columbia.

Other surnames

Murillo