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Murphey Family History

Murphey Surname Meaning

Irish: variant of Murphy. English (mainly northern): variant of Morphey (see Morphew).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Murphey family from?

You can see how Murphey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Murphey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Murphey families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 194 Murphey families living in Lancashire. This was about 25% of all the recorded Murphey's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Murphey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Murphey surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Murphey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Murphey. 43% of Murphey men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Murphey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Murphey were Dock Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Murphey | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    43%
  • Boiler Fireman In Steel Worker Heavy Worker
    15%
  • Labourer
    15%
  • Dock Labourer
    15%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    9%
  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • Housewife
    7%

What Murphey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 87,000 census records available for the last name Murphey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Murphey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Murphey

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Murphey. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Murphey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Murphey. For the veterans among your Murphey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Murphey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Murphey family history

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What is the average Murphey lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Murphey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Murphey in 1943 was 48, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Murphey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Murphey ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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