Torney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Torney family

The surname Torney was first found in Kerry (Irish: Ciarraí) part of the former County Desmond (14th-17th centuries), located in Southwestern Ireland, in Munster province, where they held a family seat as the Viscounts Clanmaurice seated at Abbeydorney. Irish history was greatly influenced by the Norman invasion of 1172, and thereafter, the surnames of Irish Gaelic clanns and septs and many of the Norman families became almost indistinguishable. This family name was found later in Cork but the name is mostly found in Ulster and here represented the first recorded reference to the name.

As far as the Dorney variant is concerned, "Woulfe makes this Cork and Tipperary name Ó Doirinne. It takes the form Durney in east Munster." 1

The Torney variant descends from the Irish O'Torna, (descendant of Torn) "Torney is now a pretty common family- name, the correct form of which is O'Torna. According to O'Curry, they derive their name from the celebrated poet Torna Eigeas, who flourished in the fourth century; and they inhabited the district of O'Torna in the North of Kerry." 2 "Ó Torna This name is mainly found in Ulster; but it is also a synonym of Dorney of Cos. Cork and Kerry." 3

Torna Éices nicknamed Éices or Éces ("the poet, sage"), was noted as "the last great bard of Pagan Ireland." He was the foster-father of the Irish kings Corc and Niall of the Nine Hostages.

Early History of the Torney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Torney research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Torney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Torney Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dorney, Torney, O'Dorney, O'Torney, Durney, O'Durney, Turney and many more.

Early Notables of the Torney family

More information is included under the topic Early Torney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Torney migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Torney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Torney, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1835
George Torney, who settled in San Francisco in 1852

Torney migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Torney Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Hugh Torney, who arrived in Montreal in 1816

Contemporary Notables of the name Torney (post 1700) +

Henry Walter Torney (1884-1942), American football player and industrial engineer, an All-American at the halfback and fullback positions in 1904 and 1905 while attending the United States Military Academy
Brigadier General George Henry Torney (1850-1913), American physician in the United States Navy and Army who served as the 21st Surgeon General of the United States Army, eponym of Torney General Hospital
Rhona Torney, Irish camogie player, winner of a Soaring Star award in 2010 and an All Ireland Intermediate championship medal in 2011
Jason Torney (b. 1977), Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club and the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) (1995-2007)
Thomas William Torney (1915-1998), British Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament for Bradford South (1970–1987)
Kate Torney OAM, Australian CEO of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, former CEO of the State Library of Victoria from 2015 to 2021
Hugh Jacob Torney (1909-2000), Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL), and with Williamstown in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) (1933-1943)

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.