Meaning & Origin
A Scottish surname from Scottish Gaelic.
Murray is a boy's and girl's baby name of Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from the region of Moray in Scotland — from the Gaelic Moireabh, meaning 'seaboard settlement' or 'land beside the sea.' The Murray clan was one of the most powerful in Scottish history.
With over 21,000 recorded births in U.S. SSA data, Murray has substantial American roots. It carries the dignified, unpretentious character of classic Scottish surnames that became first names — alongside names like Bruce, Grant, and Keith. Tennis great Andy Murray has kept it in global sporting consciousness, and its vintage Scottish charm is finding new appreciation.