A County Cork surname normally O'Hurley but also found as Murley, Murilly and Murhila. The original location was kilbritain in the East Carberries, west of Cork and one of the Sept became Bishop of Ross in 1517. The name was prominent in ecclesiastical circles when Thomas O'Hurley (or Murley) was also elected Bishop of Ross but was later incarcerated in the Tower of London where he died in 1580. Brother Donogh O'Murily, a Franciscan was executed for Treason in 1586. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John O'Muriley which was dated 1527, (deceased) County Cork Records during the reign of King Henry VIII, Good King Hal!, 1510 - 1548 Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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