Murphy is an Anglicized version of two Irish surnames Ó Murchadha ("descendant of Murchadh"), and Mac Murchaidh ("son of Murchadh" ) derived from the Irish personal name Murchadh, which meant "sea-warrior" or "sea-battler". (Muir meaning "sea" and cath meaning "battle".) Mac Murchaidh is the more likely Irish root of the Murphy surname in the counties of Ulster, in particular, but not limited to, Armagh and Tyrone. The motto of the Murphy clan is "Fortis et hospitalis," which means "Brave and hospitable".

The Oxford English Dictionary claims that Murphy is derived from the name Morpheus.

Murphy is the most common Irish surname. In modern Irish "Ó Murchú", rather than "Ó Murchadha", is used.

Women

• Brittany Murphy (born 1977), American actress
• Caitlin Murphy (born 1986), actress who plays the Yellow Overdrive Ranger in Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive
• Dervla Murphy (born 1931), travel writer
• Carolyn Murphy (born 1975), American model
• Donna Murphy (born 1958), American Tony Award winning actress
• Erin Murphy:
• Erin Murphy (born 1964), American actress
• Erin Murphy (poet)
• Mary Murphy:
• Mary Murphy (actress) (born 1931), American actress
• Mary Murphy (choreographer), American choreographer
• Mary Murphy (reporter) (born 1959), American reporter and anchorwoman
• Róisín Murphy (born 1973), Irish electronica singer, songwriter, and producer
• Shaun Murphy (singer), aka Stoney, American singer

Men

• Alex Murphy, English rugby league footballer
• Anthony Murphy (born 1982), Irish soccer player
• Arthur Murphy, several people:
• Arthur Murphy (1727-1805), Irish actor and playwright
• Arthur P. Murphy (1870–1914), American Republican politician
• Audie Murphy (1925–1971), American war hero and actor
• Austin J. Murphy (born 1927), Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania
• Bob Murphy, several people, see Robert Murphy
• Brian Murphy, several people:
• Brian Murphy (actor) (born 1933), British actor most noted for his role as George Roper in the sitcom George and Mildred
• Brian Murphy (Canadian politician), former mayor of Moncton in New Brunswick, Canada
• Brian Murphy (cricketer) (born 1976), former captain of the Zimbabwean cricket team
• Brian Murphy (dual player) (born 1952), former hurler and Gaelic footballer with Cork, Ireland
• Brian Murphy (footballer) (born 1983), currently playing for Bohemian F.C.
• Brian Murphy (politician) (born 1956), first to win independent race in his town
• Brian Murphy (hurler) (born 1982), corner-back on the Cork, Ireland, senior hurling team
• Brian Murphy (writer) (born 1959), religion editor for the Associated Press
• Calvin Murphy (born 1948), American retired basketball player
• Charles Murphy, several people:
• Charles Murphy (1880–1958), Irish politician more commonly referred to as Cathal Ó Murchadha
• Charles Murphy (architect) (1890–1985), the Chicago based architect of C.F. Murphy Associates, later Murphy/Jahn Inc.
• Charles Murphy (Canadian politician) (1862–1935)
• Charles Francis Murphy (1858–1924), American political figure
• Charles Minthorn Murphy (1870–1950), aka "Mile-a-Minute" Murphy, American cyclist
• Charles Quinton Murphy (born 1959), American writer, actor, and stand-up comedian
• Charles Terrence Murphy (politician) (born 1926), Canadian politician
• Cillian Murphy (born 1976), Irish actor
• Colin Murphy, several people:
• Colin Murphy (comedian), Irish comedian
• Colin Murphy (footballer), English football manager
• Colin Murphy (ice hockey) (born 1980), Canadian ice-hockey player
• a different, Anglicized, spelling of Colm Murphy (born 1952), Irish, alleged suspect in the Omagh bombing
• Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin politician in Northern Ireland
• Dale Murphy, several people:
• Dale Murphy (born 1956), American retired baseball player
• Dale D. Murphy, professor at Georgetown University
• Daniel Murphy, several people
• Danny Murphy, several people
• Daryl Murphy, Irish professional football player
• David Murphy, several people:
• David Murphy (baseball) (born 1981), American
• David Murphy (CIA), CIA's station chief in Berlin from 1959–1961
• David Murphy (conductor), Welsh
• David Murphy (footballer) (born 1984), English
• David Lee Murphy (born 1959), American country music singer-songwriter
• Dick Murphy (born 1942), American retired Republican politician
• Donald E. Murphy (born 1960), American Republican politician
• Donnie Murphy, American Baseball Player
• Eddie Murphy, several people:
• Eddie Murphy (born 1961), American comedian and actor
• Eddie Murphy (1891–1969), American baseball player
• Edgar Gardner Murphy (1869–1913), American clergyman and author
• Edward Murphy, several people, most notably:
• Major Edward A. Murphy, Jr. 1918–1990, American aerospace engineer linked with Murphy's law
• Francis Murphy, several people:
• Francis Murphy (bishop) (1795–1858), Australian bishop
• Francis Murphy (evangelist) (1836–1907), American temperance evangelist
• Francis P. Murphy (1877–1958), Republican 73rd Governor of New Hampshire
• Francis X. Murphy (1915–2002), Catholic theologian and chaplain
• Frank Murphy, several people:
• Frank Murphy (1890–1949), former Justice of the United States Supreme Court
• Frank Murphy (American football) (born 1977), former NFL player
• Frank Murphy (rugby player) (born 1981), Irish professional rugby union player
• B. Frank Murphy (1867–1938), U.S. Representative from Ohio
• George Murphy (1902–1992, American dancer, actor, and Republican Senator
• Henry Murphy, several people:
• Henry Murphy (1877–1954), American architect
• Henry Cruse Murphy (1810–1882), American politician from New York and U.S. minister to the Netherlands
• Isaac Murphy, several people:
• Isaac Murphy (1802–1882), Republican Governor of Arkansas
• Isaac Burns Murphy (1861–1896), American Hall of Fame jockey
• Jack Murphy, several people:
• Jack Murphy (footballer) (born 1918), retired Australian Rules footballer
• Jack Murphy (sportswriter) (1923–1980), American sportswriter and brother of Bob Murphy
• Jack M. Murphy (1925–1984), Republican Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
• Jack Roland Murphy (born 1938), aka Murph the Surf, American, convicted robber and murderer
• James or Jimmy Murphy, several people:
• James Murphy (electronic musician) (born 1970), American
• James Murphy (musician) (born 1967), American heavy metal guitarist
• James Murphy (soccer), retired American soccer player
• James "Quick" Murphy (born 1959), retired Canadian football player
• James A. Murphy III, District Attorney, Saratoga County, New York
• James Anthony Murphy (1894–1924), "Jimmy" Murphy, American racing driver
• James J. Murphy (1898–1962), a United States Representative from New York
• James William Murphy (1858–1927), a United States Representative from Wisconsin
• Jimmy Murphy (cartoonist) (1891–1965), cartoonist of Toots and Casper comic strip
• Jimmy Murphy (footballer) (1910–1989), Welsh football player and manager
• Jimmy Murphy (musician), (1925–1981), American Country musician
• Jimmy Murphy (playwright) (born 1962), Irish playwright
• John Murphy, several people:
• John Murphy (Alabama) (1786–1841), American Democratic Governor and Congressman from Alabama
• John Murphy (announcer), American football announcer for the Buffalo Bills
• John Murphy (Australian politician) (born 1950), member of the House of Representatives
• John Murphy (Australian rules footballer) (born 1949), former champion player with the Fitzroy Football Club in the 1960s and 1970s
• John Murphy (baseball infielder) (died 1949), aka Soldier Boy, a baseball infielder
• John Murphy (baseball pitcher), a 19th century baseball pitcher
• John Murphy (Canadian politician) (born 1937), member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1993–1997
• John Murphy (composer) (born 1965), British composer of film scores
• John Murphy (economist), financial market analyst
• John Murphy (footballer) (born 1976), English striker for Chester City
• John Murphy (musician) (born 1959), sometimes credited as "Jonh Murphy", Australian drummer and multi-instrument musician
• John Murphy (playwright) (1929–1998), Irish dramatist, author of The Country Boy.
• John Murphy (swimmer) (born 1953), retired American Olympic gold medalist in swimming
• Father John Murphy (1753–1798), one of the leaders during the Irish Rebellion of 1798
• John A. Murphy (born 1927), Irish historian and former independent Senator from Cork
• John Benjamin Murphy (1857-1916), American surgeon, president of the American Medical Association in 1911
• John E. Murphy (1869-1941), United States Navy sailor and Medal of Honor recipient during the Spanish-American War
• John Francis Murphy (1853-1921), American landscape painter
• John J. Murphy (born 1959), American Republican politician
• John Michael Murphy, US Congressman from New York, implicated in Abscam
• John W. Murphy (1902–1962), American Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania
• John W. Murphy (Connecticut), former mayor of New Haven, Connecticut
• Kevin Murphy, several people:
• Kevin Murphy (actor) (born 1956), American actor, author and puppeteer
• Kevin Murphy (American football) (born 1963), retired American football player
• Kevin Murphy (Irish ombudsman)
• Kevin Murphy (screenwriter), American screenwriter, television producer, and composer
• Kevin Murphy (swimmer) (born 1949), "King of the Channel" title holder for crossing the English Channel
• Kevin M. Murphy, economist and professor at the University of Chicago
• Lambert Murphy (1885–?), American tenor, sang at the Metropolitan Opera
• Larry Murphy (born 1961), Canadian retired professional ice hockey player
• Lionel Murphy (born 1922), Australian politician and jurist
• Marc Murphy (born 1987), Australian rules footballer
• Mark Murphy, several people:
• Mark Murphy (Packers) (born 1958), retired American football player
• Mark Murphy (Redskins) (born 1955), retired American football player, now President and CEO of the Green Bay Packers
• Mark Murphy (singer) (born c. 1932), American jazz singer
• Martin Murphy (1832–?), Canadian civil engineer
• Matt Murphy, several people:
• Matt Murphy (American football) (born 1980), American football player
• Matt Murphy (blues guitarist) (born 1927), aka Matt "Guitar" Murphy , an American musician
• Matt Murphy (Canadian musician)
• Matt Murphy (Illinois politician), an American Republican Senator
• Matt Murphy (wrestler) (born 1979), aka "All That" Matt Murphy, a retired American professional wrestler
• Michael Murphy, several people:
• Michael Murphy (actor) (born 1938), American actor
• Michael Murphy (author) (born 1930), American Integral Movement author and co-founder of the Esalen Institute
• Michael Murphy (diver) (born 1973), retired Australian Olympic diver
• Michael Murphy (politician) (born 1949), New Jersey lobbyist, former Prosecutor and candidate for Governor
• Michael Murphy (priest) (c. 1767–1798), co-leader in the Irish Rebellion of 1798
• Michael Murphy (singer) (born 1986), New Zealand Idol runner up
• Michael Murphy (VC) (c. 1837–1893), Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Michael Bryan Murphy, former lead singer of REO Speedwagon
• Michael D. Murphy, United States Air Force Colonel under charges for falsely claiming to be an attorney
• Michael P. Murphy (1976–2005), United States Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient, killed in action in Afghanistan
• Michael Martin Murphey (born 1945, American singer and songwriter
• Mick Murphy, several people:
• Mick Murphy (Irish Socialist Party), Irish socialist party politician from Dublin
• Mick Murphy (Sinn Féin politician) (born 1942)
• Mike Murphy, several people:
• Mike Murphy (broadcaster) (born 1941), retired Irish broadcaster
• Mike Murphy (Hong Kong), professor at the University of Hong Kong
• Mike Murphy (ice hockey b. 1950), retired ice hockey player and head coach, currently NHL vice-president of hockey operations
• Mike Murphy (ice hockey b. 1989), ice hockey player for the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League
• Mike Murphy (New Brunswick politician) (born 1958), Canadian lawyer and Liberal politician
• Mike Murphy (political consultant) (born 1962), American Republican political consultant
• Mike Murphy (Washington politician), Democratic Treasurer of the State of Washington
• Nick Murphy (born 1979), American football player
• Oakes Murphy (1849 - 1908), Two-time Governor of Arizona Territory
• Peter Murphy, several people:
• Peter Murphy (artist) (born 1959), English Stuckist artist
• Peter Murphy (footballer) (born 1980), Irish international footballer
• Peter Murphy (JAG), American lawyer and officer in the United States Marine Corps
• Peter Murphy (musician) (born 1957), British musician with Bauhaus
• Peter Murphy (politician) (born 1949), American politician, Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
• Peter Murphy (UK footballer) (1922–1975), aka "Spud" Murphy, English footballer
• Richard Murphy, several people:
• Dick Murphy (Richard M. Murphy) (born 1942), American retired Republican politician
• Richard Murphy (architect), Scottish architect
• Richard Murphy (poet) (born 1927), Irish poet
• Richard Murphy (screenwriter) (1912–1993), American film and television writer
• Richard L. Murphy (1875–1936), American Senator from Iowa
• Richard W. Murphy (born 1929), American diplomat
• Rob Murphy, several people:
• Rob Murphy (born 1960), American retired baseball player
• Rob Murphy (basketball), American assista basketball coach
• Rob Murphy (football player) (born 1977), professional Canadian football player
• Rob Murphy (ice hockey) (born 1969), Canadian retired ice hockey player
• Robert Murphy, several people:
• Irish Bob Murphy (1922-1961), American light heavyweight boxer
• Bob Murphy (announcer) (1924–2004), American baseball announcer
• Bob Murphy (golfer) (born 1943), American PGA winning golfer
• Bob Murphy (musician), Canadian jazz pianist
• Robert Murphy (Australian rules footballer) (born 1982), Australian rules football
• Robert C. Murphy (1926–2000), American lawyer and judge
• Robert Cushman Murphy (1887–1973), American ornithologist
• Robert Daniel Murphy (1894&ndas1978), American diplomat
• Robert F. Murphy, American retired Republican politician, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 1957 to 1961
• Robert F. Murphy (anthropologist) (1924–1990), American anthropologist
• Robert P. Murphy (born 1976), American economist and author
• Robert S. Murphy (1861–1912), American politician, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1907 to 1911
• Ryan Murphy, two people:
• Ryan Murphy (Australian rules footballer) (born 1985)
• Ryan Murphy (writer), American television writer, director and producer
• Scott Murphy, two people:
• Scott Murphy (politician), current Democratic candidate in a special election for New York's 20th congressional district
• Scott Murphy, a programmer behind the Space Quest series
• Sean Murphy, several people:
• Sean Murphy (artist), cartoonist
• Sean Murphy (cryptographer), professor at Royal Holloway, University of London
• Seán Murphy (footballer), retired Irish football player
• Sean Murphy (golfer) (born 1965), American professional golfer
• Sean Murphy (journalist) (born 1958), Australian journalist
• Sean Murphy (Oz), a fictional character on the television series Oz
• Sean Murphy (racer) (born 1984)
• Shaun Murphy, several people:
• Shaun Murphy (cue sports) (born 1982), English snooker player
• Shaun Murphy (footballer) (born 1970), retired Australian soccer player
• note: there also is a woman of this name: Shaun Murphy (singer), aka Stoney, American singer
• Shawn Murphy (born 1951), Canadian Liberal politician
• Timothy Murphy, several people:
• Tim Murphy (born 1959), retired Canadian politician
• Tim Murphy, a fictional character in Jurassic Park
• Tim Murphy (congressman) (born 1952), American Republican politician
• Tim Murphy (football coach), currently at Harvard Universi
• Timothy Murphy (1751–1818), sniper in the American Revolutionary War
• Timothy D. Murphy (died 1928), aka "Big Tim", Chicago mobster and labor racketeer
• Timothy J. Murphy (died1949), Irish Labour Party politician
• Timothy Patrick Murphy (1959–1988), American film and television actor
• Thomas Murphy (or Tom), several people
• Tom Murphy (athlete), American middle distance runner
• Troy Murphy, power forward for the Golden State Warriors
• Vincent B. Murphy, NYS Comptroller 1925-1926
• Vincent J. Murphy, Mayor of Newark 1941-1949
• Wendell H. Murphy, North Carolina politician
• William Murphy, several people
• Yo Murphy, football player, CFL, NFL