Surname Kilmurry - Meaning and Origin

Kilmurry: What does the surname Kilmurry mean?

Kilmurry is an Irish surname derived from the Old Irish words Cill (meaning church) and Muire (meaning Mary). It has various spellings including Kilmurray, Kilmara, Kilmair, and Kilmaire. Historically, the Kilmurry surname originated in Kilmurry, a small townland in County Mayo. It eventually spread to other parts of Ireland and the world.

Kilmurry is believed to be a toponymic surname, which means it originated from a place name. The families that bore this name were likely to have descended from people who lived in the village of Kilmurry, which was named after the local church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This church has since been destroyed but the last remaining ruins still stand in Kilmurry today.

People who bear the Kilmurry surname often have a strong sense of connection to their homeland and the history associated with the place. They may have a deep interest in preserving and researching their family history and are likely to take pride in their Irish heritage and surname. This surname is also associated with creativity and drive, driven from taking roots in a foreign land and seeking a better future.

Kilmurry: Where does the name Kilmurry come from?

The last name Kilmurry is common primarily in the province of Connacht in western Ireland. It is most commonly found in the counties of Mayo, Leitrim, and Galway. It is also found in clusters in County Longford to the east and County Clare to the south. The surname Kilmurry is thought to have descended from the Gaelic name MacMurchadha, and is derived from the Irish words "Mac" meaning "son" and "Murchadh" meaning "of the sea". It is related to the popular Irish surnames McMurray and Murry.

The last name Kilmurry is very rare elsewhere in the world, although it can be found in small numbers in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. One of the earliest records of the name can be found in Galway, where a William Kilmurry is recorded in the 1659 "Census of Ireland". The name has also been carried with emigrants to other parts of the world.

Today, the Kilmurry name is still very much alive in Connacht and the families who bear the name are proud to keep the memory alive. The name is often found on pub signs and there is also a pub located in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo that bears the name Kilmurry's. Ultimately, the name Kilmurry continues to be strongly associated with the province of Connacht.

Variations of the surname Kilmurry

The Kilmurry surname is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic surname O Maol Mhuire which translates as “devotee of the Virgin Mary.” Variants of the name include Kilmurray, MacMurry, McMurray, McMurry and MacMurray.

Kilmurry is commonly found in counties Cork and Kerry, mainly throughout Ireland's southern regions, with some found in Ulster as well.

Historically, the surnames of Kilmurry, Kilmurray, MacMurry, McMurray, McMurry and MacMurray all derive from the same origin, and they were used interchangeably by the original Irish families that bore them. So, anyone with either of those six surnames might be related.

The surname Kilmurry is of ancient Irish origin and is derived from the native Gaelic Sept O Maol Mhuire, meaning 'descendant of the Devotee of (Our Lady) the Virgin Mary'. It has been in use since the mid 13th century and is first mentioned in County Cork.

The spelling variants,MacMurry, McMurray and McMurry may have resulted from later generations having first assumed a more anglicised spelling of the family name for either professional or other non-Gaelic reasons.

In more modern times, the spelling of the surname has been altered in a number of different ways. Some of the variants include - Murry, Murrey, McMurrey/McMurry, Killmurray, McMorry, McMurry/McMurray, MacMurry, McMurrie and MacMurray.

The name Kilmurry is still an important part of Irish culture and heritage. There have been many notable bearers of the name, including the prominent nationalist Patrick MacMurry, Bishop of Limerick and editor of the Irish magazine "The Nation," and Thomas MacMurry, an Irish physician who co-discovered the syndrome of embolismic paralysis.

Famous people with the name Kilmurry

• Peter Kilmurry: acted in the 1990s in one of Australia's most renowned films, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
• John Kilmurry: an Irish artist and political activist who gained international recognition with his 1950s series, Ulster in Conflict.
• Mary Kilmurry: an author and illustrator well known for her award-winning children's books, such as The Sound of Thunder and The Dark Horse of Long Ridge.
• Sean Kilmurry: an American actor, most notably known for his role in the CBS series, Numb3rs.
• Andy Kilmurry: an actor from Cleveland, Ohio, who has had guest roles on popular television shows such as Law & Order and The West Wing.
• Margery Kilmurry: a New Zealand actress who has appeared in a number of television shows, including the American-produced drama 24.
• Patrick Kilmurry: an Irish novelist, best known for his works, Me Too and I Should Have Listened.
• Maureen Kilmurry: an American astronomer who wrote extensively about the evolution of galaxies in the 1990s.
• Garry Kilmurry: an Australian wildlife photographer and filmmaker who created the acclaimed documentary series, On the Wild Side of Australia.
• Nadia Kilmurry: an Irish news presenter who has been a key figure on Dublin's most watched news programme since 1997.

Other surnames

Kilmurray