Surname Murry - Meaning and Origin

Unlocking Ancestry Secrets: A Review of the iGENEA DNA Test and Discovering the Murry Lineage

Looking to trace your ancestry or understand your lineage? In this review, I share my experience with the iGENEA DNA test, mainly concentrating on what I discovered about my surname, Murry.

I. Murry

Murry: What does the surname Murry mean?

The surname Murry is a variation of the name Murray, which is of Scottish origin. It derives from the region of Moray in Northeast Scotland. The historical Gaelic form of the name is 'Moireabh', which possibly means 'seaboard settlement'. Over time, it was Anglicized to 'Murray' and also has alternative spellings such as 'Murry'. This name was typically given to people from Moray as a form of geographical identification. Families with this surname are historically associated with the Scottish Clan Murray, one of the oldest and largest Scottish clans with notable connections to many key historical events in Scotland. The name also spread to other English-speaking countries in the world through migration. It is important to note that given its long history and widespread usage, the surname may also have other independent origins in different cultures and languages.

Murry: Where does the name Murry come from?

The last name Murry is most commonly found in the United States, especially in areas where Irish settlers have historically been plentiful. It is the 5,969th most common surname in the United States, and its ancestry can be traced back to several distinct clans in Scotland and Ireland.

The earliest recorded form of the name is the Gaelic Mac Muireadhaigh, which means "son of Muireadhach". Muireadhach was a form of the ancient Irish name Muirgheas, meaning "sea strength". The earliest recorded Clan was Thomas Muirhead of Touch in Stirlingshire, Scotland, in the early eighteenth century.

Murry has also spread beyond the United States to other parts of the world. It is especially popular in Ireland, Scotland, Australia and Canada, and can be found in many parts of Europe. In Canada, it is the 9,352nd most common surname, while in Australia it is 8,823rd. In Ireland, the Murry name is relatively rare, with only a handful of families traced to the name.

It is likely that the Murry surname will continue to spread across the world, as more people with this last name travel and move to new areas.

Variations of the surname Murry

The surname Murry is thought to date back to pre-Norman times in the British Isles. The name is thought to originate from Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man, with variants Murrey, Murry, Murri, Murie, MacMurrie, MacMurry and McGregor being the common ones.

The Murry surname is derived from the Gaelic “MacMhuirigh”, which is thought to have been an occupational name for someone who was a carpenter or a weaver. The name morphed from Murrie to its later form Murry, and likely emerged during the English language’s spellings changes following the Norman Invasion in the 11th century.

In Scotland, the Murphy and Murray surnames are commonly found. Historically, the Murry spelling may have been more associated with the western isles such as the Isle of Skye and the Hebrides, and the McMurrie spelling commonly used in the highlands of Scotland.

In Ireland, Murry is the more popular spelling of the family name. The Irish version of the name may have developed from the ancient Gaelic O’ Muiredhaigh or McMurraich clans.

In the United States, the Murry spelling is seen far less compared to other spellings, as it was likely anglicized to Murray upon immigration.

Overall, Murry and its variants Murrey, Murri, Murie, MacMurrie, MacMurry and McGregor are all considered to be derived from the same family tree, with each spelling ones more dominant in certain regions.

Famous people with the name Murry

• Bill Murray: an American actor, producer, and writer. He is best known for his famous comedic roles in movies like Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, and Caddyshack.
• T.J. Murray: American actor best known for his roles in Law & Order, Masters of Sex, and Ray Donovan.
• Murray Hamilton: an American actor most known for playing Mayor Larry Vaughn in Jaws as well as appearing in other films such as The Graduate, The Hustler, and The Betsy.
• Ash Murray: an Australian actor best known for his role on the show Neighbours and other films like Hounds of Love, Cheat, and Charlie's Farm.
• Loretta Murray: an Australian country singer-songwriter who has released albums such as The Highway of Life and Can't Stop Thinking About You.
• Rory Murray: an American professional golfer who has competed on the Web.com Tour and Canadian Tour.
• Bobby Murray: an American blues guitarist who has tour with blues giant Big Jack Johnson and continue to tour with his band The GM’s.
• Duff Murray: an American football player who made it to the NFL in the late 50s and played primarily for the Minnesota Vikings.
• Roy Murray: an English-born Australian actor known for his roles in films like The Lighthorsemen and television shows like Sons and Daughters.
• Jean-Sebastien Murray: a Canadian doctor and public health expert who is a professor in family and community medicine, and public health at the University of Montreal.

Other surnames

MurrahMurrantMurrayMurrefMurrelMurrellMurreyMurrieMurrinMurrow