| ![Show Contents]() Furphy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Ireland
Etymology of FurphyWhat does the name Furphy mean? The surname Furphy comes from the Irish Gaelic name "O Foirbhithe," pronounced "furvihe," from the Gaelic adjective meaning "perfect" or "complete." Early Origins of the Furphy familyThe surname Furphy was first found in County Louth (Irish: Lú) the smallest county in Ireland, located on the East coast, in the Province of Leinster, where Patrick O'Fewrthy, was noted in 1428 when he incurred excommunication at Armagh for an unrepentant injury to the property of the Abbey of Knock, County Louth. Early History of the Furphy familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Furphy research. Another 50 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1602, 1664 and 1841 are included under the topic Early Furphy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Furphy Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Furphy, O'Furphy, Furfey, Furpey, O'Furfuye, O'Fuorphy and many more. Early Notables of the Furphy familyNotable amongst the family name at this time was
| Furphy migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Furphy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- James Furphy, aged 19, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dorette" in 1874 1
- Mr. James Furphy, (b. 1855), aged 19, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Dorette" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th April 1874 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Furphy (post 1700) | + |
- Keith Furphy (b. 1958), English-born, American former professional footballer
- Ken Furphy (1931-2015), English former football player and manager
- Joseph Furphy (1843-1912), Australian novelist who wrote under the name Tom Collins, regarded as the "Father of the Australian novel"
- John Furphy (b. 1842), Australian blacksmith and engineer, who owned a firm which manufactured water-carts called "furphies." These furphies came to be meeting places which abounded in gossip, hence the 'Aussie slang' term furphy, meaning an absurd story or rumour
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Lamb dearg Eirin
Motto Translation: The red hand of Ireland.
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