Murphy is an Irish surname meaning "Sea Warrior".

Origins and variants

The surname is a variant of two Irish surnames: "Ó Murchadha"/"Ó Murchadh" (descendant of "Murchadh"), and "Mac Murchaidh"/" Mac Murchadh" (son of "Murchadh") derived from the Irish

personal name A personal name, full name or prosoponym (from Ancient Greek ''prósōpon'' – person, and ''onoma'' –name) is the set of names by which an individual person or animal is known. When taken together as a word-group, they all relate to that on ...

"Murchadh", which meant sea-warrior or sea-battler (''muir'' meaning sea and ''cath'' meaning battle). According to historian C. Thomas Cairney, the O'Murphys were one of the chiefly families of the Uí Ceinnselaig who in turn were a tribe from the Dumnonii or Laigin who were the third wave of

Celts The Celts ( , see Names of the Celts#Pronunciation, pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples ( ) were a collection of Indo-European languages, Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient Indo-European people, reached the apoge ...

to settle in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

during the first century BC. The O'Murphys as one of the chiefly families of the Uí Ceinnselaig is supported by John O'Hart in his 1892 ''Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of The Irish Nation''. Murchadh is reported to have been gripped with a boiling awful rage, an extreme elevation and greatness of spirit and intellect when he joined the middle of the action and prepared to assail the foreign invaders, the Danes, after they had repulsed the Dal gCais. A gallantry and championship bird rose inside him and fluttered above his head and on his breath. In modern Irish, "Ó Murchú" or Mac Murchú rather than Mac/Ó Murchadha", is used. "Murphy" is the most common surname in Ireland, the fourteenth most common surname in

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

, and the sixty-fourth most common surname in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

People with the surname

Men

* Aaron Murphy (born 1988), English rugby league player * Andrae Murphy (born 1986), American football player and coach * Anthony Murphy (cricketer) (born 1962), English cricketer * Arthur Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Audie Murphy (1925–1971), American war hero and actor * Austin J. Murphy (1927–2024), American politician * Barnes Murphy (born 1947), Irish Gaelic footballer *

Ben Murphy Ben Murphy (born March 6, 1942) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Kid Curry in the ABC television series '' Alias Smith and Jones''. Early life Murphy was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to Benjamin R. Castleberry and Nadi ...

(born 1942), American actor * Benjamin Franklin Murphy (1867–1938), American politician * Bos Murphy (1924–2000), New Zealand boxer * Brian Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Buddy Murphy, Australian professional wrestler * Byron Murphy (born 1998), American football player * Byron Murphy II (born 2002), American football player * Caleb Murphy (born 1999), American football player * Calvin Murphy (born 1948), American basketball player * Carl Murphy (born 1979), New Zealand snowboarder * Carl J. Murphy (1889–1967), American journalist, publisher, civil rights activist, and educator * Charles Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Chris Murphy (born 1973), American politician * Ciarán Murphy, Irish politician * Cillian Murphy (born 1976), Irish actor * Colin Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Colm Murphy (1952–2023), Irish alleged suspect in the Omagh bombing * Connor Murphy (born 1993), American ice hockey player * Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin politician in Northern Ireland * Dale Murphy (born 1956), American retired baseball player * Dale D. Murphy, professor at Georgetown University * Daniel Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Darren Murphy (born 1985), Irish footballer * Darren Murphy (Australian rules footballer) (born 1964) * Darren Murphy (1961–2012), bassist with the British punk rock/post-punk band Wasted Youth * Daryl Murphy, Irish football player * David Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Derek Murphy (born 1968), American rapper better known as Sadat X * Dick Murphy (born 1942), American retired Republican politician * Donald E. Murphy (born 1960), American Republican politician * Donnie Murphy (born 1983), American baseball player * Eddie Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Edward Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Elliott Murphy (born 1949), American singer/songwriter * Erik Murphy (born 1990), American–Finnish basketball player * Everett J. Murphy (1852–1922), politician * Francis Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Frank Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Fred Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Gary Murphy (1972), Irish professional golfer * Gary Murphy (1948), New Zealand cricketer * Geoff Murphy (1938–2018), New Zealand filmmaker * Geoffrey Mostyn Murphy (1922–2011), Australian boxer, better known as Tommy Burns * George Murphy (1902–1992), American dancer, actor, and Republican Senator * Gerard Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Gerry Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Glen Murphy (1957), British actor * Grayson Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Harold Lloyd Murphy (1927–2022), American judge * Henry Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Isaac Murphy (1802–1882), Republican Governor of Arkansas * Isaac Burns Murphy (1861–1896), American Hall-of-Fame jockey * Isaiah Murphy, a.k.a. Shinsaku Enomoto, (born 1998), Japanese basketball player * Jack Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Jacob Murphy (born 1995), English footballer * James Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people, people named James or Jimmy * Jim Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * John Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Joseph Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Josh Murphy (born 1995), English footballer * Kevin Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Kieran Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Lambert Murphy (1885–?), American operatic tenor * Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. (born 1974), American singer, winner of season 6 of ''America's Got Talent'' * Larry Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Lawrence Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Lionel Murphy (1922–1986), Australian politician and jurist * Loren E. Murphy (1882–1963), American jurist * Marc Murphy (footballer) (born 1987), Australian rules footballer * Mark Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Martin Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Matt Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people *

Maurice Murphy (actor) Maurice Murphy (October 3, 1913 – November 23, 1978) was an American film actor.Pitts, p.177. Initially a child actor, he graduated to playing older roles, often in action films. His brother Jack Murphy also became an actor. Early film appea ...

(1913–1978), American actor * Michael Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people, people named Michael, Mick or Mike * Mickey Murphy (born 1985), Gaelic footballer * Miles Murphy (born 1967), Australian sprinter *

Myles Murphy (disambiguation) Myles Murphy may refer to: * Myles Murphy (painter) (1927–2016), English painter * Myles Murphy (American football) (born 2002), American football player See also * Miles Murphy (born 1967), Australian sprinter {{human name disambiguation ...

, multiple people * Nicholas Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Nick Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Oakes Murphy (1849–1908), two-time Governor of Arizona Territory * Pat Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Patricia Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Patrick Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Paul Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Peter Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Phil Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people, people named Phil, Philip or Phillip * Richard Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people, people named Richard, some nicknamed Dick * Robert Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people, people named Robert, Rob, Bob or Bobby * Roger P. Murphy, American legislator and jurist * Ryan Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Scott Murphy, American entrepreneur and politician * Scott Murphy (video game designer), a programmer behind the ''Space Quest'' series * Sean Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Sebastian Murphy (Captain, Founding Father of

Utuado, Puerto Rico Utuado () is a Utuado barrio-pueblo, town and Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central mountainous region of the island known as the ''Cordillera Central (Puerto Rico), Cordillera Central''. It is located ...

), b. circa 1696 * Shaun Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Shawn Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Stephen Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Storm Murphy (born 1999), American basketball player * Sydney Murphy (born 1960), Vincentian retired cricketer * Timothy Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people, people named Timothy or Tim * Thomas Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people, people named Thomas or Tom * Trent Murphy (2013), outside linebacker in the National Football League; played for the Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills * Troy Murphy, power forward for the Boston Celtics * Vincent B. Murphy, New York State Comptroller 1925–1926 * Vincent J. Murphy, Mayor of Newark 1941–1949 * Wendell H. Murphy, American politician * William Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people, * Yale Murphy (1869–1906), American baseball player * Yo Murphy (born 1971), American former football player

Women

* Ashling Murphy, Irish teacher; suspected of being murdered * Alexis Murphy, American murder victim * Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (born 1995), Irish rugby sevens and union player * Annie Murphy (born 1986), Canadian actress *

Brittany Murphy Brittany Anne Murphy-Monjack (; November 10, 1977 – December 20, 2009) was an American actress and singer, known for her work in both comedy and drama. Born in Atlanta, Murphy moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to pursue a career in a ...

(1977–2009), American actress * Camay Calloway Murphy (1927–2024), American educator * Carolyn Murphy (born 1975), American model * Claudia Quigley Murphy (1863–1941), American journalist, economic consultant, advisory counsel, author * Dervla Murphy (1931–2022), travel writer * Diana E. Murphy (1934–2018), American judge * Donna Murphy (born 1958), American Tony Award-winning actress * Elizabeth B. Murphy (1917–1998), American journalist * Erin Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Gail C. Murphy, Canadian computer scientist * Gillian Murphy, principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre * Jess Murphy, New Zealand-born chef based in Galway, Ireland * Julie Murphy (singer) (born 1961), Welsh singer * Julie Murphy (author), American novelist * Kelly Murphy (born 1977), American author and illustrator * Kelly Noonan Murphy (born 1974 or 1975), American politician * Laura Murphy, American politician * Laura W. Murphy (born 1955), American civil rights activist and lobbyist * Madeline Wheeler Murphy (1922–2007), American community advocate and civil rights activist * Margaret Mary Healy Murphy (1833–1907), American Catholic nun * Mary Murphy (disambiguation), multiple people * Maureen Murphy (ice hockey) (born 1999), American ice hockey player * Peta Murphy (1973–2023), Australian politician * Róisín Murphy (born 1973), Irish electronica singer, songwriter, and producer * Shaun Murphy (singer), a.k.a. ''Stoney'', American singer * Stephanie Murphy, Vietnamese-American politician * Stephanie J. Murphy, American veterinary scientist * Tammy Murphy (born 1965), American banker * Vashti Turley Murphy (1884–1960), American educator, community leader, and one of the founders of Delta Sigma Theta * Yi Lu Murphey, American electrical engineer

Fictional characters

* Meg Murphy, the main character in the movie, '' Jinxed'' (2013) * Murphy Cooper, in the film '' Interstellar'' * Captain Ed Murphy, a character in the 1987 American buddy cop action movie ''

Lethal Weapon ''Lethal Weapon'' is a 1987 American action film directed by Richard Donner and written by Shane Black. It stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover alongside Gary Busey, Tom Atkins, Darlene Love, and Mitchell Ryan. In ''Lethal Weapon'', a pai ...

'' * Captain Murphy from the Adult Swim animated series '' Sealab 2021'' * Alex James Murphy, the police officer who became '' RoboCop'' * Alexis "Lex" Murphy, in the film ''Jurassic Park'' * Frank, Sue, Bill, Kevin, and Maureen Murphy from the Netflix original '' F Is for Family'' * "Bleeding Gums" Murphy, on the cartoon TV series ''The Simpsons'' * Bridey Murphy, historical character in a hypnotic regression case detailed in Bernstein's ''The Search for Bridey Murphy'' * Coach Murphy, a character in the 2009 American fantasy comedy movie '' 17 Again'' * Colin Murphy (Days of Our Lives), in the American soap opera ''Days of Our Lives'' * Connor Murphy, from the musical '' Dear Evan Hansen'' * Elise Murphy, from the 2024 movie ''

Tarot Tarot (, first known as ''trionfi (cards), trionfi'' and later as ''tarocchi'' or ''tarocks'') is a set of playing cards used in tarot games and in fortune-telling or divination. From at least the mid-15th century, the tarot was used to play t ...

'' * Eric Murphy, in the HBO series ''Entourage'' * Frank Murphy, in the movie '' Blue Thunder'' (1983) * Hank Murphy, in the TV series '' Sullivan & Son'' (2012) * John Murphy, in the TV series '' The 100'' * Karrin Murphy, in Jim Butcher's novel series ''The Dresden Files'' (named Connie Murphy in the TV series of the same title) * Ken Murphy, a character in the 2009 American romantic comedy-drama movie '' He's Just Not That Into You'' * Milo Murphy, in the American animated TV series '' Milo Murphy's Law'' * Professor Michael Murphy, the protagonist in the '' Babylon Rising'' series by Tim LaHaye * Randle Patrick McMurphy, one of the main characters in Ken Kesey's novel ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1962) * Ray Murphy, birth name of Gino Esposito, in the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'' * Sean Murphy (''Oz''), in the HBO TV drama series ''Oz'' * Sergeant Murphy, a fictional character in the '' Richard Scarry'' books * Susan Murphy, aka Ginormica, one of the main protagonists of the film ''Monsters vs. Aliens'' * Alvin Bernard Murphy, in the TV series '' Z Nation''

References

{{surname Surnames Irish families Surnames of Irish origin Occupational surnames Anglicised Irish-language surnames English-language surnames