NameCensus.

UK surname

Murrey

A variant of Murray, derived from the Gaelic muireadach meaning "seacoast settlement".

In the 1881 census there were 814 people recorded with the Murrey surname, ranking it #4,595 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 248, ranked #16,910, down from #4,595 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tamworth, East Riding of Yorkshire and Cherwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murrey is 935 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.5%.

1881 census count

814

Ranked #4,595

Modern count

248

2016, ranked #16,910

Peak year

1861

935 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murrey had 814 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,595 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 248 in 2016, ranked #16,910.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 935 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Murrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murrey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Murrey 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 793 #3,363
1861 historical 935 #2,963
1881 historical 814 #4,595
1891 historical 766 #5,212
1901 historical 487 #8,208
1911 historical 465 #8,292
1997 modern 225 #16,352
1998 modern 241 #16,065
1999 modern 238 #16,308
2000 modern 240 #16,186
2001 modern 231 #16,365
2002 modern 240 #16,291
2003 modern 231 #16,504
2004 modern 234 #16,416
2005 modern 245 #15,857
2006 modern 246 #15,907
2007 modern 238 #16,505
2008 modern 237 #16,688
2009 modern 258 #16,050
2010 modern 263 #16,205
2011 modern 256 #16,383
2012 modern 241 #16,925
2013 modern 251 #16,734
2014 modern 250 #16,905
2015 modern 251 #16,756
2016 modern 248 #16,910

Geography

Back to top

Where Murreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Lambeth, St Marylebone and Stoke St Mary, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Taunton St James, Wilton, Bishops Hull, Staplegrove, Kingst. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tamworth, East Riding of Yorkshire, Cherwell and West Oxfordshire. 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 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Stoke St Mary, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Taunton St James, Wilton, Bishops Hull, Staplegrove, Kingst Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tamworth 006 Tamworth
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 020 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Cherwell 010 Cherwell
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 013 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 West Oxfordshire 002 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Murrey

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Murrey

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Murrey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Murrey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Murrey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Murrey 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

Murrey 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 Murrey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Murrey

The surname MURREY has its origins in the British Isles and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "mur," which means "wall" or "fortification." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near or was associated with a wall or fortified structure.

The earliest known record of the name MURREY is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England and parts of Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Murie" in this historical document.

In the 13th century, the surname MURREY was recorded in various forms, including "Murie," "Murye," and "Murry." These variations likely emerged due to regional differences in pronunciation and spelling practices during that time. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire in England.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname MURREY was Sir Adam de Murrey, who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He was a prominent landowner and held estates in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Another notable figure was Sir John Murrey, who was born around 1350 and served as a Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in 1377 and 1382. He was also a respected soldier and fought in the Hundred Years' War against the French.

In the 15th century, the MURREY family gained recognition when William Murrey, born around 1420, became the first Lord Murrey of Tullibardine in Scotland. His descendants went on to hold significant positions in the Scottish nobility.

During the 16th century, Sir Robert Murrey, born in 1534, was a prominent English diplomat and served as the ambassador to various European courts, including those of France and the Holy Roman Empire.

Another notable individual was Thomas Murrey, born in 1563, who was an English playwright and author. He is best known for his work "The Black Book," which chronicled the lives of prominent English families.

Throughout history, the MURREY surname has been associated with various places, including Murrayfield in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Murree, a town in modern-day Pakistan, which was named after a British officer named Sir Robert Murree during the colonial era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Murrey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murrey 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 148 Murreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.58x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 148 1.58x
Middlesex 114 1.44x
Surrey 75 1.95x
Yorkshire 59 0.75x
Cheshire 44 2.52x
Kent 37 1.37x
Northumberland 33 2.80x
Durham 32 1.36x
Staffordshire 26 0.97x
Warwickshire 24 1.20x
Essex 23 1.47x
Cumberland 17 2.50x
Hampshire 14 0.86x
Lanarkshire 13 0.51x
Dorset 11 2.12x
Flintshire 10 4.70x
Devon 9 0.55x
Glamorgan 9 0.65x
Shropshire 9 1.32x
Ayrshire 8 1.35x
Monmouthshire 8 1.40x
Derbyshire 7 0.57x
Lincolnshire 7 0.55x
Oxfordshire 7 1.43x
Sussex 7 0.52x
Denbighshire 6 2.01x
Gloucestershire 6 0.39x
Somerset 6 0.47x
Caernarfonshire 5 1.56x
Renfrewshire 5 0.82x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.55x
Berkshire 4 0.67x
Leicestershire 4 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.28x
Bedfordshire 2 0.49x
Cornwall 2 0.22x
Dumfriesshire 2 1.14x
Worcestershire 2 0.19x
Angus 1 0.14x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.21x
Caithness 1 0.92x
Hertfordshire 1 0.18x
Morayshire 1 0.81x
Northamptonshire 1 0.13x
Shetland 1 1.24x
Suffolk 1 0.10x
Wigtownshire 1 0.95x

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 25 Murreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.38x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 25 4.38x
Lambeth 24 3.48x
St Marylebone London 20 4.74x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 17 16.68x
Deptford St Paul 16 7.69x
Wigan 15 11.43x
Altrincham 13 42.61x
Sculcoates 12 9.65x
St Luke London 12 9.46x
Bethnal Green London 10 2.91x
Horton 10 171.82x
Birmingham 9 1.35x
Northfleet 9 37.85x
Sheffield 9 3.61x
Southampton St Mary 9 8.83x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 5.65x
St George Hanover 9 8.72x
Aston 8 1.46x
Blackburn 8 3.20x
Kingswood 8 761.90x
Newton 8 11.06x
Newton On Ayr 8 45.12x
Sandal Magna 8 69.03x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 2.83x
Usk 8 168.78x
Widnes 8 11.82x
Battersea 7 2.40x
Castleton 7 7.47x
Failsworth 7 32.59x
Fulham London 7 6.10x
Great Grimsby 7 8.72x
Newport 7 84.85x
Whitehaven 7 19.28x
Barford St Michael 6 740.74x
Barony 6 0.93x
Brighton 6 2.23x
Clayton Le Moors 6 32.95x
Flint 6 49.71x
Heckmondwike 6 23.80x
Kensington London 6 1.36x
Little Neston 6 214.29x
Melcombe Regis 6 27.88x
Shavington Cum Gresty 6 207.61x
St Pancras London 6 0.94x
Tynemouth 6 9.52x
Walton On Hill 6 359.28x
Wincham 6 186.34x
Wrexham Regis 6 27.04x
Banstead 5 47.89x
Brampton 5 28.89x
Bromley London 5 2.87x
Buckland Ripers 5 1190.48x
Bury 5 4.66x
Clerkenwell London 5 2.68x
East Greenock 5 8.64x
Hadleigh 5 396.83x
Hartlepool 5 14.95x
Llanbeblig 5 15.40x
North Shields 5 21.29x
Oldham 5 1.65x
Over Darwen 5 6.67x
Rowley Regis 5 6.72x
Sedgley 5 5.04x
St Cuthbert W O 5 15.06x
Taunton St Mary 5 21.39x
Westminster St John 5 5.19x
Cardiff St Mary 4 5.27x
Chigwell 4 27.14x
Clewer 4 16.44x
Elswick 4 4.26x
Exeter St Sidwell 4 10.61x
Harbury 4 123.46x
Kirkdale 4 2.53x
Manchester 4 0.95x
Newchurch 4 5.21x
Northop 4 53.12x
Poplar London 4 2.68x
Salford 4 1.45x
West Derby 4 1.46x
West Ham 4 1.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 61
Margaret 27
Ann 23
Elizabeth 20
Ellen 18
Sarah 16
Catherine 14
Eliza 12
Annie 9
Bridget 9
Jane 9
Alice 7
Emma 7
Harriet 7
Louisa 7
Martha 7
Anne 6
Emily 6
Agnes 5
Caroline 4
Frances 4
Clara 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
May 3
Susan 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Helena 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Kathreen 2
Lucy 2
Margret 2
Maria 2
Marthen 2
Matilda 2
Phoebe 2
Susannah 2
Bridgett 1
Elenor 1
Elizebeth 1
Isabel 1
Winfred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 58
James 44
William 36
Thomas 32
Edward 14
George 13
Henry 13
Joseph 12
Michael 12
Charles 10
Patrick 9
Robert 9
Peter 7
Richard 7
Albert 5
Frederick 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Daniel 4
Dennis 4
Edwin 4
Hugh 4
Alexander 3
Walter 3
Anthony 2
Caleb 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Frank 2
Jas. 2
Martin 2
Michal 2
Phillip 2
Roger 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Wn. 2
Angus 1
Dan 1
Elija 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Gerald 1
Gilbert 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Marey 1
Matthew 1

FAQ

Murrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murrey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 814 people were recorded with the Murrey surname. That placed it at #4,595 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 248 in 2016. That gives Murrey a modern rank of #16,910.

What does the Murrey surname mean?

A variant of Murray, derived from the Gaelic muireadach meaning "seacoast settlement".

What does the Murrey map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Murrey 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.