Murray Family History
The ancient origin of the name Murray was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. The principal ancestor of the great family of Murry was Freskin. His grandson, William, assumed the name, De Moravia'. From him descended the great house of Murray of Tullibardine. Sir John Murray, twelfth feudal baron of Tullibardine, was created Earl of Tullibardine by James VI. William , second Earl of Tullibardine, married Lady Dorothea Stewart, daughter and heir of the fifth Earl of Atholl, who died in 1594. His son John, was in 1629 confirmed by King Charles in his mother's peerage, and so became the first Murray Earl of Atholl. John, second Earl, was created Marquis of Atholl, 1676, and John, second Marquis Duke of Atholl in 1703. In Ireland the name Murray is derived from the native Gaelic O'Muireadhaigh sept of Ui Maine and the MacGiollaMhuire and MacMuireadhaigh septs of Counties Donegal and Down. The name Murray is today widespread throughout Ireland.The Murray family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Murray descendants.