Correct Pronunciation

kheanmurphy

I have been unable to find a correct (consistant) pronunciation for my last name in gaeilge:

MacMurchadha.

I have found everything from phonetically: "Mer - kada" to "Moore - hawa".

I would like some verification on the correct way.

Thank you

simu

Off the bat, I'd say

Mac Mur-a-cha (where you pronounce the ch like in loch, the "mur" like in femur).

The dh wouldn't have been pronounced in centuries.

There could well be other accpeted pronunciations as well - I'll try to get more info for you on that!

uberwolf

I'm swinging with 'moore kada' kinda thing...

btw if your surname is murphy then murchada isn't ur surname anyway afaik. Ó Murchú (I think) is the translation...

simu

Both Ó Murchú and MacMurchadha exist in Irish, they were used in different parts of the country - they have the same basic meaning - grandson (Ó) or son (mac) of Murchadh. (Murchadh is a first name).

dudara

I'd just pronounce it like O'Murchú, as I know one person who spells it the old-fashioned way, yet pronounces it as above.

Though I've also heard O-Mur-cha-da

kheanmurphy

Grand,

Thanks

simu

Yeah, apparently like Ó Murchú is the commonest pronunciation in Munster for the surname. There's a few other pronunciations as well, depending on dialect though.