Of territorial origin from the province of Moray. William de Moravia (lord of Petty) was witness to a royal charter to the Abbey of Holyrood, 1203 (LSC., p. 36). A little earlier he appears as William, son of Freskin (Inchaffray, p. 269). Hucting de Moravia witnessed confirmation of sale of the land of Scrogges, c. 1208-13 (REG., p. 76), and Malcolm de Moravia witnessed gift of a mark of silver annually to the Abbey of Arbroath, c. 1250 (RAA., I, p. 266), and also attested a charter by Malise, earl of Strathern, c. 125871 (LIM., xxxiii). William de Morreve rendered homage, 1296. His seal bears on a triangular shield three stars of six points, with a label of five points, 3' Willelmi; ae: Morevia (Bain, II, 784; Macdonald, 2050). Sir Andrew de Moravia, Hugh de Morreve, William de Morref of Ramsirgard, and Alan de Morref also rendered homage. Ricardus Merref was burgess of Aberdeen, 1317 (SCM., V, p. 10), and Sir Andrew Moray was designated 'panetarius Scotiae' in 1327. Emma de Moravia was spouse of John Schairp in Aberdeen, 1405 (Friars, 25), John de Murrefe de Ogylface in record, 1424 (LSC., p. 233), and Alexander de Moreff, juror on inquisition on lands of Tulloch, 1438 (RAA., II, 83). Harbard de Murraf held part of Easter Drumy, 1470 (Cupar-Angus. I, p. 156), John of Murrafe was steward to Alexander, duke of Albany, 1476 (Home, 23). Sir Patrick Morra was a monk of Beauly in 1480, and Stephen Murreff was witness in Brechin, 1496 (RED., II, 139)( Morray 1591, Murra 1491, Murrafe 1476, Murrai 1444, Murraue 1457, Murrave 1469, Mvry 1546, Mwrey 1732, Mwrray 1555; Mowrrey, Muref, Merref, Murrefe, Murreff, Murry, Mwry. The name Murray in Galloway is most likely from Macmurray, which see.

(Scandinavian) belonging to Sutherland, the Old Norse Súðrland-the Southern Land (compared with the Orkneys).

(Scottish) One who came from the county of Sutherland (southern land), in Scotland.

The founder of the clan of Sutherland settled in the XII. cent. in the province of Murref, Moray, or Moravia, comprehending the modern counties of Murray or Elgin, and parts of Inverness and Banff, whence the family for several generations assumed the name of Murref or De Moravia, which they retained even after their occupation of Sudrland or Sutherland, and their elevation to that earldom. Rymer's Foedera, v. 554.20. March, 1367. They subsequently assumed the name of Sutherland. The people did the same; and the names of Murray and Sutherland still distinguish the bulk of the population near Dunrobin, although to a stranger this would scarcely appear obvious, through their sobriquets, Bain, white; Gow, smith; Roy, red, &c.

A warlike tribe called the Moravii came at an early day from Germany to Scotland, and gave their name to the district now called Moray or Murray. The family name was originally de Moravia, and they are descended from Friskinus de Moravia, temp. David II.

Local: from the county of Sutherland. The family are descended from Allan, Thane of Sutherland, temp. Malcolm Canmore.

De Moravia. Some deduce this family from a warlike people called the Moravii, who came from Germany into Scotland, and affixed their own nomenclature to that district now called the shire of Moray. The root of the name is the same whether Moravian or Gaelic, and signifies the great, wafer, from mor, great, and an or av, water.

The county.