Mcmurray / / / Family History
The family history of the ancient name McMurray was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. The name McMurray in Gaelic is MacMuireadhaigh, meaning 'son of Muireadhach' a name of great antiquity. This name is of Scottish descent and is found in many ancient manuscripts in the above country. Examples of such are a John and Fergus MacMurry, who were mentioned in the will of Egidia Blair, Lady Row, in 1530 and Sir Fergus MacMurray was a chaplain in Glasgow, recorded in 1553. Names were recorded in these ancient documents to make it easier for the overlords to collect taxes and to keep records of the population at any given time. When the overlords acquired lands by either force or as gifts from their rulers, they created charters of ownership for themselves and their vassals. In Ireland the name is derived from the native Gaelic O'Muireadhaigh sept of Ui Maine and the Mac Giolla Mhuire and MacMuireadhaigh septs of Counties Donegal and Down. The names Murray and McMurray are today widespread throughout Ireland.The McMurray 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 McMurray descendants.