Contents [hide]

Hurley History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Hurley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Hurley is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in Harley, a place-name found in Shropshire and in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The place-name is derived from the Old English words hare, which meant hare or rabbit, and leah, which meant forest clearing. The name as a whole meant "clearing with lots of rabbits." The original bearers of the name lived near or in such a clearing.

Early Origins of the Hurley family

The surname Hurley was first found in Shropshire where "it appears that Edward and Hernulf, living in the first half of the twelfth century, were lords of Harley, and the ancestors of the race who were afterwards denominated therefrom. Sixth in descent from William de Harley living in 1231 was Sir Robert de Harley." 1

"In an ancient leiger book of the abbey of Pershore, in Worcestershire is a commemoration of a noble warrior of this name, who commanding an army under Ethelred, king of England, in his wars against Sweyn, king of Denmark, gave the Danes a great defeat near that town, about the year 1013." 2

" Before the Conquest, Sir John de Harley was possessed of Harley Castle and lordship." The same, or another, Sir John de Harley accompanied the expedition to the Holy Land in 1098." 2

By the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was scattered throughout Britain: Henry de Herley in Berkshire; and Clemens de Herleghe in Somerset. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists Matilda Herlay and Willelmus Herlay. 3

Further north in Scotland, listings of the family were found in Fife and Clackmannanshire. 4

Early History of the Hurley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hurley research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1098, 1319, 1354, 1549, 1558, 1579, 1600, 1623, 1624, 1643, 1656, 1661, 1664, 1695, 1698, 1700, 1703, 1724, 1735 and 1782 are included under the topic Early Hurley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hurley Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Hurley family name include Harley, Hurley, Harrily and others.

Early Notables of the Hurley family

Distinguished members of the family include

William Hurley (known works 1319-1354), King's Master Carpenter for King Edward III; John Harley (died 1558), an English Bishop of Hereford; John Harley, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1549; Sir Rob...

Hurley World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hurley is the 807^th most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. 5 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hurley is ranked the 244^th most popular surname with an estimated 179 people with that name. 6 And in Australia, the name Hurley is the 631^st popular surname with an estimated 6,197 people with that name. 7 New Zealand ranks Hurley as 503^rd with 1,365 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Hurley as 962^nd with 7,239 people. 9

Migration of the Hurley family to Ireland

Some of the Hurley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hurley migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Hurley surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Hurley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliza Hurley, who landed in Virginia in 1700 10
Daniel Hurley, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 10

Hurley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

David Hurley, who landed in New York, NY in 1817 10
Ellen Hurley, aged 25, who arrived in America in 1822 10
Philip Hurley, who arrived in New York in 1834 10
James Hurley, who landed in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1842 10
Thomas Hurley, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1853 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hurley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Timothy Hurley, (b. 1861), aged 41, Cornish miner from Camborne, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th October 1902 en route to Butte, Montana, USA 11

Hurley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hurley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Hurley, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
John Hurley, who landed in Quebec in 1784
Mr. John Hurley U.E. who settled in Marysburgh [Prince Edward County], Ontario c. 1784 12

Hurley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Michael Hurley, aged 33, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Ward" from Limerick, Ireland
John Hurley, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland
Thadeus Hurley, aged 17, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland
John Hurley, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland
Ellen Hurley, aged 40, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hurley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hurley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Elizabeth Hurley, British Convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. Timothy Hurley, British convict who was convicted in Ayr, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. John Charles Hurley, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. Jeremiah Hurley, (b. 1784), aged 43, Irish seaman who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 19th July 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1830 16
Mr. Murtagh Hurley, (b. 1792), aged 35, Irish labourer who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 19th July 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hurley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hurley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Alexander Hurley, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Matilda Hurley, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841
Joseph Hurley, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Bernian
Joseph Hurley a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Birman" in 1842
Winifred Hurley, aged 30, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Birman" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hurley (post 1700) +

James R. Hurley (1932-2023), American politician, Member of the New Jersey Legislature from 1968 to 1990
Olga Katherine Torkelsen "Katie" Hurley (1921-2021), American politician, Secretary to Alaska Territorial Governor Ernest Gruening (1944-1953)
Bruce Hurley (1934-2020), American politician, Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives (1971-1989)
Francis Thomas Hurley (1927-2016), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Archbishop of Anchorage from 1976 to 2001
Marcus Hurley (1883-1941), American four time gold and one time bronze Olympic medalist for cycling at the 1904 games
Paul Hurley (b. 1946), former American ice hockey player
Eric William Hurley (b. 1985), American professional baseball pitcher
Joseph Patrick Hurley (1894-1967), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church
Major-General Patrick Jay Hurley (1883-1963), American Ambassador to China (1943-1945) 17
Colonel Douglas G. Hurley (b. 1966), American NASA Astronaut with over 376 hours in space, pilot for the Space Shuttle mission STS-127 18
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Hurley family +

Halifax Explosion

Mr. John Hurley (1869-1917), British stationed aboard the SS Calonne from who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19
Mr. Maurice Hurley (1900-1917), English Mess Boy aboard the SS Curaca from Liverpool, England, United Kingdom who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. John Hurley, British Petty Office Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 20

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Charles Edwin Hurley, American 3rd Class passenger from Brockton, Massachusetts, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 21
Miss Margaret Hurley, Australian 1st Class Passenger, Maid to the Learoyds family from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 21

USS Arizona

Mr. Wendell Ray Hurley, American Musician Second Class from Indiana, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 22

The Hurley Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virtute et fide
Motto Translation: By valour and faith.

Citations +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Patrick Hurley. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Hurley/Patrick_Jay/USA.html
NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Douglas Hurley. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/hurley-dg.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html