The spelling of the word "Murfey" might seem odd at first glance, but the pronunciation guides us towards an explanation. The correct spelling can be phonetically transcribed as /ˈmɜːrfi/. The 'e' at the end of the word indicates that the letter 'r' is pronounced separately, giving the sound of 'ur'. The 'y' at the end is likely used for aesthetic reasons or to make it more recognizable as a surname. While non-standard spellings can be confusing, they can also add character and uniqueness to a name.