Murphy is an Anglicize 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 for Murphy is "Fortis et hospitalis," which means "Brave and hospitable".