Show ContentsO'Turny History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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  • Ireland
O'Turny Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Early Origins of the O'Turny family

The surname O'Turny 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 O'Turny family

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

O'Turny 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 O'Turny family

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

Migration of the O'Turny family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Peter Durny, who came to Pennsylvania in 1741; Johannes Durny, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1750; Michael Durney, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1779.

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

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