[Excerpts from "Irish Names and Surnames" collected & edited with explanatory 
and historical notes by Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923]
[excerpted 30 Aug 2007, Mark Murphy]

p. 622
O Murcada-I-O Morchowe, O Moroghoe, O Morphy, O'Muracha, O'Murphy, Murchoe, 
Murphy, Morphy.  Des. of Murchad (sea-warrior); the name (1) of a family of
Cinel Eoghain, who were cheifs of Siol Aodha, in the present Co. Tyrone; (2)
of a family of the Ui Fiachrach who were chiefs of a district on the southern
shore of Sligo Bay, now comprised in the parishes of Skreen and Templeboy,
but were dis-

p. 623
possessed and dispersed in the 13th century; (3) of a branch of the Ui
Ceinnsealaigh, in Co. Wexford, who were chiefs of Ui Feilme, which comprised
the barony of Ballaghkeen, in the east of that county, and formed a district
clan down to the early part of the 17th century.  This family is now very
numerous throughout Leinster.  It is not improbable that, in addition to 
those mentioned, there are several other families of the name in Ireland