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Show ContentsMurphy Surname History

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Early Origins of the Murphy family

The surname Murphy was first found in County Wexford (Irish: Loch Garman), founded by Vikings as Waesfjord, and located in Southeastern Ireland, in the province of Leinster, where they held a family seat from very early times.

Early History of the Murphy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Murphy research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1127, 1172 and 1798 are included under the topic Early Murphy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Murphy Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Murphy, Morchoe, O'Murphy, Murfie, Murfree, Morfie, Morfey and many more.

Early Notables of the Murphy family

Notable among the family name at this time was

  • Reverends John and Michael Murphy who lost their lives in the 1798 "Rising...

Murphy World Ranking

In the United States, the name Murphy is the 59th most popular surname with an estimated 290,979 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Murphy is ranked the 51st most popular surname with an estimated 38,061 people with that name. 2 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Murphy is the 733rd popular surname. 3 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Murphy as 7th with 1,146 people. 4 Australia ranks Murphy as 44th with 41,693 people. 5 New Zealand ranks Murphy as 88th with 4,295 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Murphy as 67th with 67,818 people. 7

Murphy migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Murphy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Abraham Murphy, who settled in Maryland in 1674
  • Abraham Murphy, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 8
  • Daniel Murphy, who settled in Maryland in 1678
  • Edmund Murphy, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 8
  • Howard Murphy, who landed in Maryland in 1678 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Murphy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Edward Murphy, who settled in Boston in 1766
  • Dennis Murphy, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1766
  • Eleanor Murphy, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1767 8
  • Ann Murphy, who settled in Philadelphia in 1773
Murphy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Francis Murphy, who settled in New York in 1803
  • Arthur Murphy, who settled in Philadelphia in 1804
  • Arthur Murphy, aged 49, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 8
  • Philip Murphy, aged 22, who arrived in Maryland in 1812 8
  • Peter Murphy, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1813 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Murphy Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Murphy, (b. 1877), aged 23, Cornish miner, from Camborne, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 14th January 1900 en route to Red Jacket, Michigan, USA 9
  • Henrique Murphy, who arrived in Alabama in 1927 8

Murphy migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Murphy Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • James Murphy, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mr. Duke Murphy U.E. who settled in Westmoreland County, New Brunswick c. 1783 was a passenger aboard "Cyrus" on August 21, 1783 from New York to Saint John River 10
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Murphy U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 was a passenger aboard "Cyrus" on August 21, 1783 from New York to Saint John River 10
  • Mr. Luke Murphy U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 10
  • Mr. Timothy Murphy U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Murphy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Anne Murphy, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1803
  • Gerald Murphy, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1806
  • Bridget Murphy, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1831
  • Ellen Murphy, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1831
  • David Murphy, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1832
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Murphy migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Murphy Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Hugh Murphy, (b. 1759), aged 34, irish baker who was convicted in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1820 11
  • Mr. Patrick Murphy, (Edward), (b. 1762), aged 31, Irish convict who was convicted in Antrim, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Murphy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Murphy, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Miss Alice Murphy, (b. 1760), aged 53, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Miss Alice Murphy, (b. 1796), aged 17, Irish servant who was convicted in Kilkenny, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Miss Mary Murphy, (b. 1790), aged 23, Irish convict who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Miss Catherine Murphy, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Murphy 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:

Murphy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Murphy, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Bee" arriving in New Zealand in 1831 15
  • Mr. Cornelius Murphy, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston, UK aboard the ship "Brazil Packet" arriving in New Zealand in 1836 15
  • Miss Mary Margaret Murphy, (b. 1820), aged 20, British sempstress travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 15
  • Miss Partick Murphy, (b. 1814), aged 26, British labourer travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 15
  • Mrs. Catherine Murphy, (b. 1816), aged 24, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Murphy (post 1700) +

  • James W. Murphy (1936-2025), American soccer player, member of the St. Louis Kutis in the mid-1950s, he earned two caps, scoring one goal, with the United States national team in 1957
  • Walter Leonard Murphy (1937-2025), American jurist in New Hampshire
  • Mary Murphy (1931-2011), Emmy award-winning American actress of stage, film, and television
  • Mary Catherine Murphy (1939-2024), American politician, Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives (1977-2023)
  • John Reginald Murphy (1934-2024), usually known as Reg Murphy, American publisher and business executive
  • Tamara Murphy (d. 2024), American chef and owner of the restaurant Terra Plata in Seattle, Food & Wine named her Best New Chef in 1994, winner of the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii in 1995
  • William Eugene "Billy" Murphy (1944-2024), American Major League Baseball outfielder who played in 84 games for the New York Mets in 1966
  • Paula Murphy (1928-2023), American automobile driver, the first woman to drive a jet-engined car on the Salt Flats, first woman licensed to drive a nitromethane-fueled car
  • Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy (b. 1961), American Golden Globe winning and Academy Award nominated stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician, recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2023
  • Harold Lloyd Murphy (1927-2022), American jurist, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (1977-2022)
  • ... (Another 68 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. William Bristow Murphy, British Trimmer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 16
  • Mr. Jack Murphy (d. 1914), British Assistant Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 16
  • Mr. Peter Murphy, British Leading Fireman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 16
  • Mr. John Murphy, British Quartermaster from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 16
Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Eliza  Murphy (1857-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 17
  • Mr. Martin E.  Murphy (1860-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 17
  • Mr. John  Murphy (1862-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 17
  • Mr. Patrick  Murphy (1864-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 17
  • Mrs. Mary A.  Murphy (1870-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 17
  • ... (Another 7 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Frank E Murphy (b. 1920), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Eastbourne, Sussex, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 18
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. George Albert Murphy, British Gun Commander, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 19
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Arthur Quirk Murphy (b. 1918), British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 20
  • Mr. John Anthony Murphy (b. 1923), British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 20
HMS Royal Oak
  • Thomas Murphy (1919-1939), British Stoker 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 21
  • Peter Murphy (1922-1939), British Boy Signalman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 21
Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)
  • Mary Geraldine Murphy (1937-1988), English Purser from Middlesex, England, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 22
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Dennis Murphy, English Fireman from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 23
  • Mr. Matthew Murphy, Irish Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 23
  • Mr. James Murphy, Irish Fireman from Swords, Dublin, Ireland, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 23
  • Mr. John Henry Murphy, English First Waiter from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 23
RMS Titanic
  • Miss Nora Murphy, aged 34, Irish Third Class passenger from Dublin who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 16 24
  • Miss Catherine "Kate" Murphy, aged 18, Irish Third Class passenger from Aghnacliffe, Longford who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 16 24
  • Miss Margaret Jane "Maggie/Mary" Murphy, aged 25, Irish Third Class passenger from Fostragh, Longford who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 16 24
SS Atlantic
  • Bridget Murphy, Irish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
  • Child Murphy, Irish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
  • James Murphy, Irish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
  • Mary Murphy, Irish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
  • Patrick Murphy, Irish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
  • ... (Another 2 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Thomas J. Murphy Jr., American Storekeeper First Class from Virginia, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. James Joseph Murphy, American Seaman First Class from Arizona, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. James Palmer Murphy, American Fireman Third Class from Ohio, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. Jessie Huell Murphy, American Seaman First Class from Louisiana, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 25
USS Indianapolis
  • Allen Murphy, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 26
  • Charles Thomas Murphy, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 26
  • Paul James Murphy (1924-2016), American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he survived the sinking 26

Suggested Readings for the name Murphy +

  • The Ancestors and Descendants of Simon Jones and Ann M. (Dorr) Murphy by Marjorie Barnes Thompson.
  • Early Murphy's, Murpheys in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Robertson and Carroll Counties, Tennessee by Marion Emerson Murphy.
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  4. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  5. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  6. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  10. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  13. Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  17. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  18. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  19. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  20. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  21. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  22. Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html
  23. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  24. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  25. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
  26. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew

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