Hurley Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Hurley last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Hurley last name
Meaning of the Hurley last name: descendant of Urthuile. Hurley anglicizes two Gaelic names. Ó hUrthuile was a Dál gCais sept of Clare and Limerick, with their seat at Knocklong. In Cork, Hurley usually stands for Ó Muirthile, a separate family of Carbery. The name is now most common in Cork, where it has also been confused with Herlihy, from Ó hIarlatha. Hurley is also the name of the stick used in hurling, but the surname is unrelated. Spelling variants include Hurly and O'Hurley. Many Hurleys emigrated to the United States, especially Boston and New York, and to England and Australia.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Hurley name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Hurley name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Hurley name FAQ
What does the Hurley name mean?
Descendant of Urthuile. Common variants include Herlihy, O'Hurley, Hurly.
Where does the Hurley surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Hurley coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Hurley crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Hurley coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.