NameCensus.

UK surname

Murphy

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Murchadha," meaning "descendant of Murchadh" (sea warrior).

In the 1881 census there were 23,790 people recorded with the Murphy surname, ranking it #141 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65,378, ranked #73, up from #141 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murphy is 66,625 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 174.8%.

1881 census count

23,790

Ranked #141

Modern count

65,378

2016, ranked #73

Peak year

2010

66,625 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murphy had 23,790 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #141 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 65,378 in 2016, ranked #73.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27,430 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Murphy surname distribution map

The map shows where the Murphy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Murphy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Murphy over time

The 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 12,642 #191
1861 historical 15,675 #141
1881 historical 23,790 #141
1891 historical 23,838 #152
1901 historical 27,430 #157
1911 historical 24,241 #177
1997 modern 60,571 #70
1998 modern 62,580 #71
1999 modern 63,212 #71
2000 modern 62,776 #71
2001 modern 61,349 #71
2002 modern 62,930 #71
2003 modern 61,355 #71
2004 modern 61,387 #70
2005 modern 61,261 #69
2006 modern 61,520 #69
2007 modern 62,378 #69
2008 modern 62,834 #69
2009 modern 64,764 #69
2010 modern 66,625 #69
2011 modern 65,447 #70
2012 modern 64,407 #69
2013 modern 65,725 #70
2014 modern 66,227 #72
2015 modern 65,589 #73
2016 modern 65,378 #73

Geography

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Where Murphys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Govan Combination and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool and Knowsley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 014 Liverpool
2 Knowsley 005 Knowsley
3 Knowsley 001 Knowsley
4 Liverpool 060 Liverpool
5 Knowsley 004 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Murphy

These lists show first names that appear often with the Murphy surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Murphy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Murphy, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Murphy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Murphy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Murphy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Murphy is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Murphy falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Murphy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Murphy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Murphy

The surname Murphy is of Irish origin and can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic name Ó Murchadha, meaning "descendant of Murchadh." Murchadh was a personal name derived from the word "muir," meaning sea, and "cath," meaning battle, suggesting a possible meaning of "sea warrior."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Murphy surname dates back to the 10th century when it appeared in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient Irish chronicle. The name was particularly prominent in the counties of Wexford, Carlow, and Kilkenny, where various septs (clans) of the Murphy family held lands and influence.

In medieval times, the Murphy clan played a significant role in Irish history. One notable figure was Diarmaid Mac Murchadha, also known as Dermot MacMurrough, who was the King of Leinster in the 12th century. His involvement in a conflict with the High King of Ireland, Roderic O'Connor, led to the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, which had lasting consequences for the island's history.

Another historically significant Murphy was Domhnall Ó Murchadha, who served as the Bishop of Lismore in the 14th century. He was known for his efforts in promoting education and the establishment of schools in his diocese.

In the 16th century, during the Tudor conquest of Ireland, many Murphy families were dispossessed of their lands and forced to relocate to other parts of the country. This led to the widespread distribution of the name across Ireland.

Over the centuries, the Murphy surname has been anglicized and has evolved through various spellings, including O'Murchadha, O'Murchadh, O'Murchu, and Murchoe, before settling on the more familiar form of Murphy.

Notable individuals with the Murphy surname throughout history include:

1. Audie Murphy (1924-1971), an American soldier and actor who became one of the most decorated U.S. soldiers during World War II. 2. Gerard Murphy (1888-1964), an American painter and patron of the arts, known for his support of the American avant-garde movement. 3. John Murphy (1786-1843), an Irish mathematician and chemist who made significant contributions to the field of optics. 4. Patrick Murphy (1920-2011), an Irish politician and Fianna Fáil party leader who served as the Minister for Local Government and Minister for Economic Planning and Development. 5. Robert Murphy (1924-2018), an American diplomat and author who served as the U.S. Ambassador to various countries, including Saudi Arabia and Syria.

The Murphy surname has been widely dispersed across the globe, reflecting the Irish diaspora, and continues to hold a strong cultural significance as a testament to its rich historical roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Murphy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murphy surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 6,743 Murphys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.43x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 6,743 2.43x
Middlesex 2,836 1.22x
Lanarkshire 2,235 2.96x
Yorkshire 1,423 0.62x
Surrey 1,168 1.03x
Durham 1,117 1.61x
Cheshire 681 1.32x
Kent 659 0.83x
Glamorgan 650 1.60x
Cumberland 458 2.28x
Staffordshire 416 0.53x
Renfrewshire 407 2.25x
Ayrshire 392 2.24x
Warwickshire 374 0.64x
Midlothian 347 1.11x
Northumberland 290 0.84x
Gloucestershire 282 0.62x
Monmouthshire 280 1.66x
Hampshire 276 0.58x
Angus 274 1.27x
Devon 243 0.50x
Essex 233 0.51x
Derbyshire 166 0.45x
Stirlingshire 107 1.24x
Sussex 103 0.26x
West Lothian 99 2.82x
Kirkcudbrightshire 95 2.81x
Somerset 92 0.24x
Dunbartonshire 89 1.42x
Royal Navy 85 3.06x
Roxburghshire 79 1.87x
Channel Islands 65 0.94x
Aberdeenshire 62 0.29x
Wigtownshire 60 1.94x
Worcestershire 60 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 56 0.18x
Dumfriesshire 55 1.07x
Leicestershire 51 0.20x
Northamptonshire 49 0.22x
East Lothian 47 1.52x
Perthshire 46 0.44x
Berkshire 44 0.25x
Hertfordshire 43 0.27x
Carmarthenshire 41 0.42x
Cornwall 39 0.15x
Flintshire 36 0.57x
Lincolnshire 35 0.09x
Dorset 31 0.20x
Huntingdonshire 31 0.67x
Isle of Man 29 0.67x
Cambridgeshire 26 0.18x
Pembrokeshire 23 0.31x
Shropshire 23 0.11x
Denbighshire 20 0.23x
Fife 19 0.14x
Brecknockshire 18 0.39x
Inverness-shire 18 0.26x
Banffshire 16 0.33x
Herefordshire 16 0.17x
Selkirkshire 16 0.76x
Suffolk 15 0.05x
Argyllshire 13 0.20x
Caernarfonshire 13 0.14x
Bedfordshire 12 0.10x
Anglesey 11 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 11 0.08x
Wiltshire 11 0.05x
Clackmannanshire 10 0.52x
Norfolk 9 0.03x
Oxfordshire 8 0.06x
Cardiganshire 7 0.12x
Montgomeryshire 6 0.11x
Berwickshire 5 0.18x
Ross-shire 5 0.08x
Buteshire 3 0.21x
Morayshire 2 0.06x
Peeblesshire 2 0.18x
Sutherland 2 0.11x
Westmorland 2 0.04x
Merionethshire 1 0.02x
Nairnshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 1,787 Murphys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.62x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 1,787 10.62x
Glasgow 511 3.81x
Manchester 462 3.71x
Govan 446 2.39x
Barony 435 2.28x
Toxteth Park 400 4.27x
Everton 357 4.04x
West Derby 294 3.63x
Kirkdale 292 6.27x
Birkenhead 268 6.53x
Salford 263 3.23x
St George In East 206 12.98x
Birmingham 203 1.03x
Leeds 185 1.42x
Dundee 178 2.21x
St Pancras London 178 0.95x
Kensington London 170 1.31x
Bermondsey 165 2.37x
Lambeth 158 0.78x
Bootle Cum Linacre 155 7.05x
Camberwell 151 1.01x
Old Monkland 150 5.01x
St Marylebone London 145 1.16x
Hulme 144 2.49x
Deptford St Paul 133 2.17x
Bothwell 130 6.35x
Merthyr Tydfil 130 3.33x
Aston 129 0.80x
Wigan 129 3.33x
Gateshead 128 2.46x
Swansea Town 123 3.69x
Widnes 117 5.86x
Bradford 116 2.07x
Whitechapel London 111 4.83x
Shoreditch London 110 1.09x
Southwark St George Martyr 109 2.32x
Bethnal Green London 108 1.07x
Mile End Old Town 104 2.82x
West Ham 100 0.98x
Cleator 95 11.36x
Cardiff St Mary 94 4.20x
Walton On Hill 92 6.13x
Portsea 91 0.97x
Chelsea London 89 1.27x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 87 2.89x
Westminster St James 85 3.54x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 83 0.66x
Hamilton 83 3.94x
Battersea 82 0.95x
Bishopwearmouth 82 1.38x
Sheffield 81 1.10x
West Greenock 81 2.50x
Preston 80 1.08x
Blackburn 78 1.06x
Pendleton In Salford 78 2.36x
Chorlton On Medlock 77 1.75x
Oldham 76 0.85x
Stockport 74 2.79x
Barrow In Furness 72 1.91x
Royal Navy 72 3.03x
St Giles In Fields 72 8.94x
Fulham London 71 2.10x
Bromley London 70 1.36x
Heworth 70 5.12x
St Andrew Holborn 69 8.72x
Spitalfields London 68 3.87x
Stoke Damerel 68 2.00x
Bedwellty 65 2.18x
Newington 65 0.75x
Islington London 64 0.28x
Workington 63 5.48x
Bury 61 1.93x
Eccleston In Prescot 61 4.39x
Linthorpe 61 4.42x
Ashton Under Lyne 60 0.99x
Clerkenwell London 60 1.09x
Liff Benvie 59 1.80x
Rutherglen 59 5.33x
Farnworth 58 3.50x
Westminster St John 58 2.04x
Little Bolton 57 1.60x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Murphy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 2,170
Margaret 714
Ellen 599
Catherine 571
Elizabeth 466
Ann 408
Bridget 361
Sarah 358
Jane 267
Annie 236
Kate 194
Eliza 186
Alice 160
Julia 146
Hannah 123
Anne 96
Agnes 87
Emma 82
Rose 82
Emily 76
Maria 74
Martha 73
Johanna 64
Susan 53
Charlotte 51
Louisa 46
Isabella 42
Frances 40
Catharine 37
Harriet 37
Margt. 34
Caroline 32
Winifred 31
Norah 30
Maggie 29
Elizth. 28
Margret 28
Florence 27
Fanny 26
Clara 25
Lucy 25
Esther 24
Honora 24
Helen 22
Lizzie 22
Edith 21
Cathrine 20
Matilda 20
Minnie 20
Theresa 20

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Murphy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 1,771
James 1,087
William 741
Thomas 737
Patrick 667
Michael 521
Edward 346
Daniel 250
Joseph 225
Peter 220
George 187
Henry 171
Charles 147
Martin 112
Jeremiah 110
Francis 108
Dennis 104
Richard 104
Timothy 102
Robert 94
Arthur 85
Cornelius 63
Denis 57
David 55
Andrew 52
Thos. 51
Wm. 51
Hugh 45
Owen 44
Bernard 43
Frank 42
Alfred 39
Frederick 38
Matthew 38
Walter 37
Albert 35
Stephen 35
Lawrence 31
Samuel 29
Jno. 25
Maurice 23
Nicholas 22
Mathew 19
Luke 18
Philip 18
Anthony 17
Alexander 16
Christopher 16
Micheal 16
Patk. 16

Top occupations

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 Murphy households.

FAQ

Murphy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murphy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 23,790 people were recorded with the Murphy surname. That placed it at #141 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murphy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 65,378 in 2016. That gives Murphy a modern rank of #73.

What does the Murphy surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Murchadha," meaning "descendant of Murchadh" (sea warrior).

What does the Murphy map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Murphy bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.