Ó Murchú - Murphy Family Crest Enhanced matte paper poster

Celebrate your family heritage with a gift to cherish – the Ó Murchú - Murphy Family Crest framed and printed on museum-quality matte paper. Beautifully illustrated. Carefully researched. Uniquely personal.

☘️ Standard sizes — easy to frame yourself to make a truly meaningful gift ☘️

Symbolism of the Ó Murchú Crest

This Ó Murchú coat of arms features a quartered shield with vibrant red and silver fields, a bold black horizontal band across the center, and three gleaming gold wheatsheaves. In heraldry, each color carries significant meaning: red symbolizes courage and martial strength; silver represents peace and sincerity; black denotes constancy; and gold signifies generosity and honor. The wheatsheaves stand as enduring heraldic emblems of abundance and plenty, while the lions commonly symbolize courage and noble bearing. The crest atop the shield depicts a red lion clutching a wheatsheaf, reinforcing the powerful themes of strength and sustenance. The family motto, Fortis et hospitalis, translates to “Brave and hospitable,” reflecting the values upheld by the Murphy lineage.

Historical records associate this version of the Ó Murchú / Murphy crest with two primary family lines: one linked to Mount Merrion in County Dublin, and another connected to Kilbrew in County Meath. Notably, a grant was recorded for William Murphy, Esq., along with descendants of his grandfather William Murphy of Mount Merrion. This crest design is derived from an earlier recorded Irish heraldic form, tied to family branches across County Dublin and County Meath, and deeply rooted in the wider Gaelic Murphy sept tradition.

Origin of the Ó Murchú Name

Ó Murchú is the modern Irish language form of the older Gaelic names Ó Murchadha or Mac Murchadha, derived from murchadh, meaning “sea warrior.” The surname is deeply rooted in Irish heritage and appears in several historic Irish branches rather than a single universal family line. One tradition places early Murphy families in County Wexford, while other sources cite distinct septs in Cork, Sligo/Roscommon, Tyrone, and Armagh. Because the surname originated in multiple regions, various Murphy heraldic forms exist, each linked to specific historical lines. This particular ‘Mount Merrion’ version is certainly widely recognised as the best known Murphy crest not least because of the famous beer brand associated with it. Additionally, the Murphys of Wexford have a family crest featuring an apple tree and a golden lion, also featured on this website.

About the artist

Each coat of arms in the Family Crests Store is an artwork by heraldic artist Éamonn Breathnach. All are carefully researched, drawing from the earliest available records across multiple heraldic archives. Noted for their elegance and attention to detail, these artworks make meaningful and uniquely personal gifts for any occasion with family and friends. These prints come in standard frame sizes, making them easy to frame yourself and turn into a truly special gift.

Product details
• Paper thickness: 0.26 mm (10.3 mil)
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%
• 21 × 30 cm posters correspond to A4 size
• Paper sourced from Japan

No Warehouses. No Waste. Just for you, made to order.

This product is printed especially for you when ordered, one at a time, by royal decree of Mother Nature to keep the realm beautiful. Family Crests Store guarantees your custom treasure meets all EU and USA safety standards.