(Celtic) 1 for Mor(r)ogh, a contraction form of (a) Mu(i)readhach: v. Murdoch; (b) Murchadh: v. Murphy.

2 belonging to Moray or to Morrach (Scotland) = the Sea-Field or Marsh [Gaelic (and Irish) murmhagh (mh mute)—mu(i)r, sea + the aspirated form of magh, a field, plain]

The surname Murray is a place name deriving from the county of Moray (as in Moray Firth) in Scotland. As such it is a Scots Gaelic derivation from the ancient British place name, whose exact meaning remains unknown. It is also the English spelling for a wide variety of Irish surnames ranging from O’Muirighte to Mac Gille Mhuire.

The Irish Murrays are mainly in the north, and their presence is due almost entirely to the Cromwellian land settlements and other immigrations from Scotland.

A witness to the Royal Charter to the Abbey of Holyrood in 1203 was one William de Moravia-the first Murray on record. The Moray (or Murray) origin of this name is confirmed by the appearance in the records 50 years later of one Malcolm de Moravia, who witnessed a charter by the Earl of Strathern.

Some modern Murrays living in England may well have a different origin. These almost certainly derive from the Middle English name Murie (more recognisable in its root form Merry). This was originally a nickname, describing an obvious quality of character. These Murrays are sometimes spelt Murrie. Other widespread variations on Murray include Murrey, Morrey and Murry.

The Murray Fracture Zone is a long submarine mountain range stretching nearly 2,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean from northern Hawaii to the shores of south-western California.

It is named after Sir John Murray (1841—1914), the Ottawa- born pioneer in the science of oceanography.

One of the most influential English literary figures in the early decades of this century was John Middleton Murry. His close and often stormy relationship with the novelist D.H. Lawrence was depicted in thinly disguised form in Lawrence’s novel Women in Love, which was later made into a controversial film by the flamboyant film director Ken Russell.

Australia’s principal river is the Murray River. It flows through some 1,000 miles of south-eastern Australia and was named after the Colonial Secretary, Sir George Murray. The Murray Valley is the main wheat-growing and sheep-farming area in south-western Australia. This valley also has a disease named after it, Murray Valley encephalitis, a form of brain tissue inflammation which was once prevalent in the area. The disease is also known as Australian X disease, and is transmitted by bird migration.

The American astronomer Bruce Murray masterminded the data-finding equipment for the Mariner 10 space rocket which provided us with revolutionary new knowledge about the planet Mercury.

There are no name-related towns or major geographic features in the United Kingdom. Both Canada and the US have Murrayvilles while the US also has 4 towns called Murray and a Murray City. Australia has a Murray Downs and a Murrysboro, while Bermuda has a Murray’s Anchorage. Murray rivers are common outside of the United Kingdom while Australia’s Murray range and the Pacific Ocean’s Murray Deep are world famous.

With about 27,000 namesakes Murray is Scotland’s 12th most popular surname. Thus about one out of every 195 Scots is named Murray. In Ireland about 20,000 Murrays make this the country’s 18th most popular surname. (The name is not common enough throughout England and Wales to be counted separately.) Murray is notably popular in and around Glasgow where an estimated one in about 190 families bears the name. Around the world Murrays are most common in Canberra (one in 622 families), Sydney (one in 686), Auckland (one in 752) and Ottawa (one in 819). The United States has more Murrays than the entire population of Brighton-an estimated total of just under 194,000 makes this their 106th most popular surname.