Urly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The Irish name Urly comes from the Gaelic "O hUirthile." Interestingly, the name has also been rendered Cammane, based on a translation for the Irish word for a hurley (stick).

One of the first records of the family was Saint Comman of Ross-Commain (fl. 550). He was "son of Faelchu and descendant of Fiacha Araidhe, of the family of Rudhraighe, and race of Ir, king of Ulster, A.D. 236. In a short time he constructed a monastery, after the temporary fashion of the country, which was soon filled with zealous monks, and was named from him Ross-Commain (Roscommon). " 1

Early Origins of the Urly family

The surname Urly was first found in Limerick (Irish: Luimneach) located in Southwestern Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat as Lords and Chiefs of Knockalong Castle in the parish and barony of Knockalong, Costlea, the ruins of which still exist. 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 Rath Hurly, another of their ancient castles which is now in ruins in Kilcullane, in Small barony, Kilcullane, a castle they erected in 1464. The sept is descended from the race of Brenan Ban, on the O'Brien line. Later they built another strong castle in the parish of Kilnelonahan, where Dermod O'Hurley, built his fortress. 2

Early History of the Urly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Urly research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1377, 1519, 1584, 1700, 1714 and 1992 are included under the topic Early Urly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Urly Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hurley, Hurlie, O'Hurley, O'Hurlie, Commane and many more.

Early Notables of the Urly family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Dermot O'Hurley (1519-1584), Archbishop of Cashel, horribly tortured for his beliefs, one of the most celebrated of Irish Catholic Martyrs, beatified by Pope John Paul II on 27 September 1992; William Hurley was the master...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Urly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Urly family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Darby Hurlie, who settled in St. Christopher in 1635; Tusloe Urley, who arrived in Maryland in 1682; John Murley, who settled in New York, NY in 1820.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)