Find out how popular the last name Gormley is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gormley.

Gormley, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Gormley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gormley in America

Gormley is the 6814th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gormley surname appeared 4,949 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Gormley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gormley to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Gormley

The surname Gormley originated in Ireland, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "gorm," meaning "blue" or "green," and the diminutive suffix "-ley," which indicates a small place or field. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a green or blue meadow or field.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gormley appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a man named Gormley who lived in County Armagh in the year 1184.

In the 14th century, the name Gormley was also found in the Annals of Ulster, another important record of Irish history. This entry refers to a man named Gormley who was involved in a conflict between Irish clans in County Down.

During the 16th century, the name Gormley was associated with the Gaelic noble family of O'Gormleys, who were lords of the territory of Keenaght in County Derry. The O'Gormleys were a prominent clan in the region and were known for their involvement in various battles and conflicts.

One notable figure bearing the name Gormley was Hugh Gormley, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a Catholic priest and a member of the O'Gormley clan, and he played a role in the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s.

Another famous Gormley was Antony Gormley, an English sculptor born in 1950. He is best known for his iconic sculpture "Angel of the North," a massive steel sculpture located in Gateshead, England.

Other individuals with the surname Gormley include Patrick Gormley (1916-2005), an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for County Donegal, and John Gormley (born 1949), an Irish politician who served as the leader of the Green Party and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Throughout its history, the name Gormley has been associated with various places in Ireland, particularly in counties Armagh, Derry, and Down, where the name has its strongest roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gormley

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gormley.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gormley was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Gormley has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Gormley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gormley, please contact us.

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