UK surname
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Murchadha, meaning "descendant of Murchadh" (sea warrior).
In the 1881 census there were 575 people recorded with the Murphey surname, ranking it #6,056 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 72, ranked #33,585, down from #6,056 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murphey is 1,088 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 87.5%.
1881 census count
575
Ranked #6,056
Modern count
72
2016, ranked #33,585
Peak year
1861
1,088 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Murphey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Murphey surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 681 | #3,816 |
| 1861 | historical | 1,088 | #2,579 |
| 1881 | historical | 575 | #6,056 |
| 1891 | historical | 701 | #5,596 |
| 1901 | historical | 490 | #8,171 |
| 1911 | historical | 297 | #11,524 |
| 1997 | modern | 50 | #32,658 |
| 1998 | modern | 48 | #33,111 |
| 1999 | modern | 53 | #32,746 |
| 2000 | modern | 46 | #33,458 |
| 2001 | modern | 49 | #33,048 |
| 2002 | modern | 50 | #33,282 |
| 2003 | modern | 49 | #33,456 |
| 2004 | modern | 57 | #32,968 |
| 2005 | modern | 58 | #33,094 |
| 2006 | modern | 63 | #32,943 |
| 2007 | modern | 65 | #33,045 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 80 | #32,277 |
| 2010 | modern | 79 | #32,759 |
| 2011 | modern | 72 | #33,323 |
| 2012 | modern | 72 | #33,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 71 | #33,693 |
| 2014 | modern | 75 | #33,473 |
| 2015 | modern | 73 | #33,541 |
| 2016 | modern | 72 | #33,585 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Manchester, Liverpool and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | West Derby | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Murphey surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Murphey, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Murphey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Murphey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Murphey is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Murphey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Murphey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Murphey has its origins in Ireland, where it emerged as a prominent family name during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "muir" meaning "sea" and "chú" meaning "hound" or "protector," suggesting that the name may have been originally associated with a sea-watcher or coastal guardian.
The name Murphey is a variant spelling of the more common Irish surname Murphy, which has been recorded in various forms throughout history, including O'Morfaidh, O'Murfith, and O'Murphey. These variations are believed to have stemmed from the patronymic system, where prefixes like "O'" were used to denote descent from an ancestor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Murphey can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention several individuals with the surname, including Domhnall O'Murfith, who was involved in a battle in County Sligo in the year 1270.
Another notable figure bearing the surname Murphey was Patrick Murphey, a Catholic priest and author who lived in the 17th century. He is known for his work "The Life and Writings of St. Patrick," published in 1653, which provided valuable insights into the life and legacy of Ireland's patron saint.
In the 18th century, John Murphey (1714-1798) was a prominent Irish-American merchant and politician from Philadelphia. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and played a role in the American Revolutionary War.
Moving forward to the 19th century, we find Edward Murphey (1805-1882), an American jurist and legal scholar from North Carolina. He served as a judge and wrote influential works on legal topics, contributing significantly to the development of American jurisprudence.
Another notable figure with the surname Murphey was Frank Murphey (1894-1985), an American writer and journalist. He is best known for his novel "The Disciples of Freedom," which explored the theme of freedom and human rights in the context of the American Civil War.
These examples demonstrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds associated with the surname Murphey, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, politicians, scholars, and authors, throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murphey surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 177 Murpheys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.45x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 177 | 2.45x |
| Durham | 64 | 3.53x |
| Yorkshire | 55 | 0.91x |
| Isle of Man | 49 | 43.28x |
| Middlesex | 49 | 0.80x |
| Staffordshire | 30 | 1.46x |
| Surrey | 24 | 0.81x |
| Cheshire | 18 | 1.34x |
| Warwickshire | 16 | 1.04x |
| Northumberland | 13 | 1.43x |
| Sussex | 13 | 1.26x |
| Leicestershire | 12 | 1.78x |
| Monmouthshire | 12 | 2.72x |
| Ayrshire | 10 | 2.19x |
| Cumberland | 10 | 1.91x |
| Lincolnshire | 10 | 1.03x |
| West Lothian | 8 | 8.71x |
| Caernarfonshire | 6 | 2.43x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 0.61x |
| Cambridgeshire | 4 | 1.04x |
| Essex | 4 | 0.33x |
| Kent | 4 | 0.19x |
| Angus | 3 | 0.53x |
| Renfrewshire | 3 | 0.64x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 0.38x |
| Aberdeenshire | 2 | 0.35x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 0.63x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 0.21x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.17x |
| Herefordshire | 2 | 0.80x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 2 | 2.27x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 0.38x |
| Carmarthenshire | 1 | 0.39x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.08x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.09x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.05x |
| Roxburghshire | 1 | 0.91x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 1.38x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.10x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.13x |
| Wigtownshire | 1 | 1.24x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 33 Murpheys recorded in 1881 and an index of 101.20x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Murphey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 69 |
| Ellen | 19 |
| Elizabeth | 15 |
| Sarah | 15 |
| Catherine | 14 |
| Ann | 13 |
| Margaret | 13 |
| Bridget | 12 |
| Jane | 9 |
| Emma | 7 |
| Eliza | 6 |
| Alice | 5 |
| Margt. | 5 |
| Martha | 5 |
| Anne | 4 |
| Annie | 4 |
| Eleanor | 3 |
| Johanna | 3 |
| Julia | 3 |
| Kate | 3 |
| Margret | 3 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Alberta | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Brid. | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Cath.Jane | 1 |
| Catharine | 1 |
| Cecelia | 1 |
| Diana | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Evangeline | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Henrietta | 1 |
| Joannah | 1 |
| Johana | 1 |
| Lizzy | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Maggie | 1 |
| Marg. | 1 |
| Margrt. | 1 |
| Winifred | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Murphey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 61 |
| Thomas | 36 |
| James | 31 |
| William | 26 |
| Patrick | 21 |
| Michael | 14 |
| Edward | 9 |
| George | 9 |
| Joseph | 7 |
| Peter | 7 |
| Daniel | 6 |
| Henry | 6 |
| Robert | 6 |
| Martin | 5 |
| Albert | 4 |
| Stephen | 4 |
| Wm. | 4 |
| David | 3 |
| Denis | 3 |
| Lawrence | 3 |
| Nicholas | 3 |
| Owen | 3 |
| Bernard | 2 |
| Charles | 2 |
| Francis | 2 |
| Hugh | 2 |
| Thos. | 2 |
| Alfred | 1 |
| Anthony | 1 |
| Barnerd | 1 |
| Brownelle | 1 |
| Cornelius | 1 |
| E. | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Harry | 1 |
| Isaac | 1 |
| Jeremiah | 1 |
| Jno. | 1 |
| Makel | 1 |
| Maurice | 1 |
| Michal | 1 |
| Micheal | 1 |
| Michl. | 1 |
| Mik | 1 |
| Moses | 1 |
| Neil | 1 |
| Pat. | 1 |
| Patsy | 1 |
| Phillip | 1 |
| Reuben | 1 |
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Murphey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 89 |
| Labourer | 18 |
| Coal Miner | 10 |
| Domestic Servant | 10 |
| General Labourer | 9 |
| General Laborer | 6 |
| Hawker | 6 |
| Dressmaker | 5 |
| Mariner | 5 |
| Tailor | 5 |
| Charwoman | 4 |
| General Servant | 4 |
| Tailoress | 4 |
| Carter | 3 |
| Gen Labourer | 3 |
| Iron Worker | 3 |
| Plasterer | 3 |
| Servant | 3 |
| Stone Mason | 3 |
| Ag Labourer | 2 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 2 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Bricklayer | 2 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 2 |
| Carman | 2 |
| Carpenter | 2 |
| Cotton Weaver | 2 |
| Cotton Winder | 2 |
| Dock Labourer | 2 |
| Domestic | 2 |
| Drayman (Daur) | 2 |
| Farm Labourer | 2 |
| Fish Salesman | 2 |
| Fish Saleswoman | 2 |
| Fisherman | 2 |
| Fishmonger | 2 |
| Ironstone Miner | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Mill Hand (Tex) | 2 |
| Piano Maker | 2 |
| Porter | 2 |
| Silk Winder | 2 |
| Spinner Cotton | 2 |
| Washer | 2 |
| Wife | 2 |
| Boatswain | 1 |
| Book Folder | 1 |
| Boot And Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Carpet Filler | 1 |
| Chair Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 575 people were recorded with the Murphey surname. That placed it at #6,056 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 72 in 2016. That gives Murphey a modern rank of #33,585.
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Murchadha, meaning "descendant of Murchadh" (sea warrior).
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Murphey bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.