Further to the Gaelic: O Muireadhaigh: This family name was originally in Ireland and it was found in the old Province of Galloway by the 9th or 10th century. This family shouldn't be confused with the Murraymen and MacMurraymen of the old Province of Moray (centered about where Inverness is now located). The only connection is that these families all had Celtic roots. The Scoti, from which Scotland derives its name, are a Celtic tribe that populated the Highlands. The Celtic tribes that populated the old Galloway area came across the narrow passage between Ireland and Scotland. The problem for researchers arises when looking for Murraymen and MacMurraymen after the 10th century. By 1160, the Highland Murray (and MacMurray) families had been scattered around Scotland after their defeat in Moray by King Malcolm IV's army. Some Murray families and some MacMurray families were transported to the Galloway area after the king's army routed in the same year, 1160, the Celtic lord of Galloway. The result was these Murray and MacMurray families became assimilated into the lowlands and were recruited in 1606 as "lowlanders" to emigrate to County Down in Ulster. The only reason I bring this up is to point out the fact that Scottish Murray and MacMurray families were a part of the "plantation" of Down and a portion of Antrim in 1606. This early movement of Scots, and exclusively Scots, was the first successful settlement in Ulster and was a "plantation" that preceded King James's "Great Plantation of Ulster" in 1611. The king's efforts included the recruitment of Englishmen and Scotsmen and their settlements took place in all the counties of Ulster except in Down and Antrim which was already populated with Scotsmen. As can be seen, the defeat and scattering of the Moraymen in 1160 was ultimately most fortunate for us. It provided a means of transportation to the lowlands and allowed our Murray and MacMurray ancestors to become a part of the lowland landscape for several hundred years. Otherwise, they would never have been allowed to emigrate to Ulster in 1606. By the edict of Queen Elizabeth and later by King James, "no Highlanders or 'mere Irish'" were to be recruited and "planted" in Ulster. Both were considered un-manageable riff-raff. So the emigration to Ulster by the O Muireadhaigh (Murray) families in the lowlands would not have been possible unless they had long ago renounced their religion and their ancestry. Regards, Don McMurray -----Original Message----- From: McMurry [mailto:eagle4@airmail.net] Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2001 10:52 AM To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [McMurry] McMurry Name 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 ==== MCMURRY Mailing List ==== Post your McMURRY Deeds at the following URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/surnames/m/c/MCMURRY/deeds