Hurley (surname)
| Language(s) | Gaeilge |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Meaning | "descended from Hurley" |
| Region of origin | Ireland, almost exclusively Munster |
| Other names | |
| Related names | O'Hurley, O'Herlihy, O'Muirthile, Commane, Murphy (possibly) |
The surname Hurley has become the English version of at least three distinct original Irish names: the Ó hUirthile, part of the Dál gCais tribal group, based in Clare and North Tipperary; the Ó Muirthile, based around Kilbrittain in west Cork; and the Ó hIarlatha, from the district of Ballyvourney, also in Cork, whose name is more usually anglicised "(O')Herlihy". The principal concentrations of Hurleys are today found in counties Tipperary and Limerick, where they spread from the original Dalcassian homeland, and in Cork. An interesting example of the pseudo-translation of surnames is found in Clare, where some whose name was originally Hurley have now adopted the surname "Commane", since the Irish for the hurley-stick used in the sport of hurling is camán while the name "Commane" does not originate from that source.
The exact meaning of the name Hurley is uncertain, due to it being a conglomerate of various Irish names. The "O'Muirthile" root in particular seems to roughly translate to "of the sea tides", implying the earliest Hurleys were seafearers, and giving it a strikingly similar meaning to the name Murphy. But while Murphy is the most common surname in all of Ireland, Hurley is found almost exclusively in Munster. It is one of the more common names in County Cork, with something of a presence in Kerry and Limerick as well, but is rare in the rest of the island. Whether or not it is a regional variant of "Murphy" in Southwestern Ireland is unknown.
In the United States, it is the 807th most common surname.
People with the surname
- Alexander Hurley (1871–1913), English performer
- Andy Hurley (born 1980), American drummer
- Annette Hurley (born 1955), Australian Senator
- An American family involved with basketball:
- Bob Hurley (born 1947), high school coach and Hall of Famer
- His older son Bobby Hurley (born 1971), former player and current coach
- His younger son Dan Hurley (born c. 1973), former player and current coach
- Bruce Hurley (born 1934), American politician
- Chad Hurley (born 1976), American businessman
- Charles F. Hurley (1893–1946), Massachusetts governor
- Charlie Hurley (born 1936), Irish footballer
- Charlie Hurley (IRA) (died 1921), Irish soldier
- Chris Hurley (police officer), Queensland police officer involved in the 2004 Palm Island death in custody
- Chris Hurley (footballer) (born 1943), English former footballer
- Clyde Hurley (1916–1963), American Big Band Era musician
- David Hurley, English countertenor (singer), member of the King's Singers
- Denis Hurley (bishop) (1915–2004), South African Catholic Archbishop
- Denis M. Hurley (1843–1899), Irish-American politician
- Douglas G. Hurley (born 1966), NASA astronaut
- Eddie Hurley (1908-1969), American baseball umpire
- Elizabeth Hurley (born 1965), English model and actress
- Dale W. Hurley (born 1951), American Engineer
- Eric Hurley (born 1985), professional baseball pitcher
- Frank Hurley (1885–1962), Australian photographer, member of Ernest Shackleton's exploration team
- George Hurley (born 1958), drummer for The Minutemen and fIREHOSE
- James Francis Hurley (born c. 1966), English murderer
- Colonel John Hurley (fl. 1694), Jacobite and Rapparee,
- Joseph L. Hurley (1898–1956), American politician
- Luke Hurley (born 1957), New Zealand songwriter
- Marcus Hurley (1883–1941), American cyclist
- Marty Hurley, American marching band musician
- Michael Hurley (musician) (born 1941), American singer and musician
- Michael Hurley (footballer) (born 1990), Australian rules footballer
- Michael K Hurley (born 1966), American Soldier, All Around Awesome Hurley
- Patrick J. Hurley (1883–1963), American soldier, statesman and diplomat
- Paul Hurley (born 1946), former American ice hockey player
- Peter Hurley, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Board Member
- Rosalind Hurley (1929–2004), knighted for service to medicine, science and law
- Ryan Hurley (born 1975), former West Indian cricketer
- Sean Hurley (1897–1961), Irish Sinologist
- Steven Hurley (born 1962), American music producer and DJ
- Tonya Hurley, American writer and director
- William Hurley (carpenter), English carpenter (known works 1319–1354)
- William H. "Dick" Hurley (1847–aft.1916), former American baseball player
- William A. Hurley, American Thoroughbred horse trainer (1910s–1930s)
- [(James Edward Hurley)], American A.I.D.S activist (1953-1987)
See also
External links
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