This page provides some important family background information and access to some of our important family documents, all created and maintained by Mick Anderson.
- Direct descendants of Margaret Mary McWilliams Murphy and Harry William Murphy now number 181, including Rocky Joseph Anderson, our newest addition, born 7-31-2023.
- When those who are part of the family due to love and marriage are counted, our clan is rapidly closing in on 280!
Background
The common Irish surname Murphy is a modern form of the ancient Irish name “O’Murchadha,” which means “descendant of sea warrior,” or “strong, superior,” from the Gaelic muir meaning “sea” and cath meaning “battle.”
Alternate Surname Spellings: MURPHEY, MORPHY, O’MORCHOE, MCMURPHY, O’MURPHY, O’MURCHU.
Most families Anglicized their names by using more intuitive English spellings and dropping prefixes such as ‘O’ or “Mac.’
We believe this to be a photo of some of our cousins from the 9th century in Ireland preparing for battle against the invading Vikings. From left, they are Declan, Dermot, and Bill.
Family Crest and Motoes
This is the Murphy
Family Crest
The most prominent branch of the Murphy name comes from the Cork/Kerry area. The crest is red and white (military strength and truth), with four lions in each corner separated by a row of three sheaves of wheat on a black background; wheat symbolizes fertility and bountifulness, and black is for wisdom, constancy and prudence. The lions are heraldic beasts that symbolize fierce courage.
The family motto is “Fortes et Hospitatis“, meaning Strong and Hospitable, a second motto, “to conquer rather than die” is also associated with the name.
A third motto, “It’s your deal” is from the more modern era, possibly the 20th century.
Fun Facts
- Murphy is the most common name in Ireland. There are well over 50,000 bearers of the name in Ireland alone.
- There are more Murphys in the USA than in Ireland.
- “Murphy’s Law” is named after Edward Murphy Jr. It derived from when the U.S. Air Force tried to test human tolerance to acceleration, and the project went awry.
- The “Murphy Bed” was the name of the concept to put one’s bed in the wall to make space for other belongings.
Murphy’s Law
Family Tree and Line of Succession
Our Family Tree and Line of Succession are living documents. Changes to them should be reported to your family’s reunion committee rep. For 2023 and until new volunteers step forward (or are drafted or coerced), that would be:
Mick Anderson
Barb Newton (for Murphy North, and Klemmer families)
Ray or Karen/Don Koenig (for Koenig and Florida Murphy families).
The Murphy Family Tree
Click the download button below if you would like to view a copy of the Murphy Family Tree.
The Murphy Line of Succession
This is a Title page that you can download and print if you want your copies to be fancy.
The Murphy's of Michigan 