Map of Ireland showing where the McMurray arms are recorded
The McMurray arms were recorded in Limerick, c. 1645.
Limerick was river country in western Ireland with a walled city at its centre. Merchant families ran the city and bought land around it, and both the trade and the land brought arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the McMurray arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Limerick.
Origin & History of the McMurray Family in Ireland
The surname McMurray is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Mac Muireadhaigh, which translates to son of Muireadhach. This original name is derived from a word meaning lord or master, suggesting that early ancestors held positions of authority or status within their communities. By 1645, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in County Limerick. During this period, the family lived through a time of great political upheaval in Ireland, as the region faced significant conflict and shifts in land ownership. Because the name was passed down through oral tradition before being written in English records, the spelling evolved over time to reflect how it sounded to local officials. This transition from a Gaelic identity to an anglicized surname shows how the family adapted to the changing social landscape of seventeenth-century Ireland while maintaining their deep roots in the Limerick area.
McMurray Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mac Muireadhaigh
Son of the sea lord or mariner.
This name
McMurrayDerived from a Gaelic patronymic meaning son of the sea-hound or navigator.
also spelled
Mcmurrey
Mcmurry
Mcmurrie
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
O'Hart, John. Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation. 1892
National Archives of Ireland. Civil Survey of the County of Limerick. 1654
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
