Here is an article I found in my files on the McMurry name. I thought you might like a copy to put in your files. Murray Gaelic: O Muireadhaigh Common variations: Murry, O'Murry, MacMurry Most of the Murrays in Ireland come from Ulster and most of these are of Scottish descent. There were, however, several native Irish septs called O Muireadhaigh whose name was anglicized Murray. The most important of these was a Ui Maine sept in the barony of Athlone (Co. Roscommon). The name MacMurray is very common in Co. Donegal after the MacMuireadhaigh sept which was situated there. Sometimes the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Mhuire becomes Murray in English as an abbrieviation of MacIlmurray. The usual anglicezed form of this name, however, is Gilmore. Another article: To explain the Mac, Mc, M'..... "Mac," Gaelic for "son," is the most common element of Scotish surnames. "Mc" is always an abbreviation of "Mac." It also used to be abbreviated as "M," although this spelling is now not common. In an early book on Highland music, the author spelled his own name three different ways on the first two pages: "MacDonald," "McDonald," and "M'Donald." Blacks, The Surnames of Scotland and MacLysaght's The Surnames of Ireland, both treat "Mac" the same way as the only and original spelling. The same approach is used here. "Mac" is always considered an addition to a name. Before there was a "Donald's Son" there was a "Donald." In Scotland, names beginning with "Mac" are traditionally alphabetized under the first letter of the second name- "MacAlister" under "A." "MacZink" under "Z." After 1745, to avoid reprisals, many Scots anglicized their names by dropping the "Mac." They sometimes did so as they emigrated (were cleared off the land). "MacBall" simply became "Ball." Nova Scotia's Kinzie River was setted byt the MacKenzies. "Mac" takes a variety of pronunciations. In Islay Gaelic, "mac" is pronounced like "mek." In the United States, it can be heard as "mick." Preceding a "k" or "g" sound, the final "K" of "Mac" disappears. It becamed the practice of the south of Scotland to write two words as one (MacHan as Machan; MacGrath as Magrath). The "k" sound of "Mac" is duplicated and attached to the front of a following word if it begins with a vowel such as "MacAsh" to "MacCash." This may explain why some "MacArthurs" hear them selves called "MacCarthers." If the second name begins with a "k" or "g" creating two "k" sounds together, one may disappear ("MacKintosh" to "Macintosh" or "MacKaskill" to "MacAskill.") "Mac" at times is pronounced as "Muck" and written that way as in "Mac'll Roy" to "Muckleroy." Just some interesting info I wanted to share with those that might be interested. Donna McMurry