Gorman (surname)
Encyclopedia
Origin of the surname
There are multiple origins for the surname Gorman. The IrishIrish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
name is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Gormáin and Ó Gormáin, meaning "son of Gormán" and "descendant of Gormán". The personal name Gormán is derived from the diminutive of gorm, meaning "dark blue", "noble". One English origin of the name is from the Middle English
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
personal name
Personal name
A personal name is the proper name identifying an individual person, and today usually comprises a given name bestowed at birth or at a young age plus a surname. It is nearly universal for a human to have a name; except in rare cases, for example feral children growing up in isolation, or infants...
Gormund (Old English Garmund). This name is made up of the elements gar "spear" + mund "protection". The English surname Gorman can also be a topographic name for someone who lived near a triangle piece of land. The German surname (Görmann) is sometimes a variant of Gehrmann. German Gorman can also be of Slavic origin, from an occupational name, derived from the Slavic góra meaning "mountain".
Early bearers of the surname are William Gorman in 1296 and Adam Garman in 1327. The John atte Gore recorded in 1296 within the Sussex Subsidy Rolls is identical with the John Gorman recorded in 1332.
Irish Mac Gormáin family
According to KeatingGeoffrey Keating
Seathrún Céitinn, known in English as Geoffrey Keating, was a 17th century Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian. He was born in County Tipperary c. 1569, and died c. 1644...
, the Mac Gormáin family descended from the chieftains of the Uí Bairrche
Uí Bairrche
Uí Bairrche was an Irish kin-based group that originally held lands in the south of the ancient province of Leinster . Another south Leinster kin group associated with the Uí Bairrche were groups of the Fothairt. The south of Leinster was dominated by the Uí Chennselaig in the 8th century...
. The family lived in Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
and held the lands of Slieve Margy in present day Co Laois and lands near Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
. The family was forced from the lands with the arrival of the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
and moved into Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
. According to James Frost, the family was likely driven from the lands by the Norman lord Walter de Riddlesford, who became the master of Carlow at around this time. A poem, written by Maoelin Oge MacBrody (the MacBrodys were the ollaves of the Uí Bairrche), states that after the Mac Gormáin family was driven from its lands a group of them made for Ulster and another made westwards towards Daire Seanleath in Uaithne Cliach (Uaithne Cliach is the modern barony of Owney
Owney
thumb|right|upright|Owney, photographed in 1895Owney , was a stray mixed breed terrier adopted as the first official postal mascot by Railway Mail Service and Albany, New York, post office in 1888.-Story:...
, in Co Limerick). The family then settled in lands controlled by the O'Briens, settling in the area of Ibrackan. The Mac Gormáin family of Ibrickan were known in the 15th century for their wealth, hospitality and their patronage of the Gaelic poets. The first of the family to settle in Munster was Murtagh, son of Donogh. The chiefs
Chiefs of the Name
The Chief of the Name, or in older English usage Captain of his Nation, is the recognised head of a family or clan...
of the family held parts of the lands of Moyarta and Ibrackan in Co Clare. A branch of the family were hereditary marshalls to the O'Briens and held lands in Clare. The family is listed as one of the septs of Thomond in 1317.
Today the members of the family bear Anglicised names such as Gorman, MacGorman, McGorman, and O'Gorman. Most members of the family bear the names Gorman or O'Gorman despite the original Gaelic names was Mac Gormáin. According to MacLysaght
Edward MacLysaght
Edward MacLysaght was one of the foremost genealogists of twentieth century Ireland. His numerous books on Irish surnames built upon the work of Patrick Woulfe's Irish Names and Surnames and made him well known to all those researching their family past.-Early life:Edward was born in Flax Bourton...
, this is because at the time of the Gaelic revival
Gaelic Revival
The Gaelic revival was the late-nineteenth-century national revival of interest in the Irish language and Irish Gaelic culture...
in Ireland, the majority of bearers of the name had dropped all prefixes from their name. Though with the revival many Gormans mistaking added the historically incorrect prefix (O') because they did not know any better. MacLysaght thought that the man who was chiefly responsible for the choice in the prefix was the Frenchman Chevalier Thomas O'Gorman (1725–1808) who constructed Irish pedigrees after being ruined in the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. Within the 1669 Census of Ireland, the surnames Gormon and Gorman are listed as principal names for two baronies within Co Clare: 9 Gormons are recorded in the Islands barony which consisted of 1651 people; and 6 Gormans are recorded in the barony of Moyferta, which consisted of 1024 people. In the 17th century O'Gorman was a principal name of Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
; and McGorman was a principal name of Monaghan and Louth. In 1890 most O'Gormans are found in Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
.
The arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of O'Gorman (pictured) are blazoned azure
Azure
In heraldry, azure is the tincture with the colour blue, and belongs to the class of tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of horizontal lines or else marked with either az. or b. as an abbreviation....
a lion passant between three swords erect argent
Argent
In heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it...
; the crest an arm embowed in armour, grasping in the hard a sword, blade wavy, all proper.; and the mottoes TOSACH CATHA AGUS DEINEADH AIR (Irish) and PRIMI ET ULTIMI IN BELLO (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
). The Irish motto translates as "first in the battle, last in the fight" and the Latin motto translates as "first and last in war". In 1763, the arms were allowed by the Ulster King of Arms to Thomas O'Gorman (fourth in descent from Mahon O'Gorman) and to Thomas O'Gorman (fourth in descent from Denis O'Gorman, brother of Cahir O'Gorman).
Related surnames
Surnames that are variants of, or that share a similar etymology to Gorman are:- English origin: Garman, Garment, Garmons, Gore, Gorer.
- German origin: Gehrmann, Görmann.
- Irish origin: O'Gorman, MacGorman, McGormanMcGormanMcGorman is a surname. It is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Gormáin, meaning "son of Gormán". The personal name Gormán is derived from the diminutive of gorm, meaning "dark blue", "noble"....
.
People with the surname Gorman
- Archie GormanArchie GormanArchibald "Archie" Gorman was a Scottish footballer who played as a wing half.Born in Edinburgh, he was a modern-day holding midfielder. Gorman began his career in his hometown with Edinburgh City before being signed by fellow Scotsman Bob Jack for Plymouth Argyle in 1931...
, Scottish footballer - Arthur Pue GormanArthur Pue GormanArthur Pue Gorman was a United States Senator from Maryland, serving from 1881 to 1899 and from 1903 to 1906. He also served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1869 to 1875...
, United States Senator from Maryland - Brian GormanBrian GormanBrian Scott Gorman is an umpire in Major League Baseball. After working in the National League from 1991 to 1999, he has umpired in both leagues since 2000. He is the son of Tom Gorman, who served as an NL umpire from 1951 to 1977...
, Major League Baseball umpire - Burn GormanBurn GormanBurn Hugh Gorman is an American-born English actor and musician. Burn is best known for his roles as Owen Harper in Torchwood and as William Guppy in Bleak House.-Personal life:...
, British actor - Dave GormanDave GormanDavid James Gorman is an English author, stand-up comedian and presenter. He has performed comedy shows on stage in which he tells stories of extreme adventures and presents the evidence to the audience in order to prove to them that they are true stories...
, English documentary-comedian and humorist - Edward GormanEdward GormanEd Gorman is an award-winning American author best known for his crime and mystery fiction. He wrote The Poker Club which is currently in post production for a film of the same name directed by Tim McCann....
, novelist - Edwin GormanEdwin GormanEdwin Frederick "Ed" Gorman was a Canadian ice hockey player. He played in the NHL for the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs...
, hockey player - H. Candace GormanH. Candace GormanH. Candace Gorman is an Chicago, Illinois-based attorney best known for representing two Guantanamo detainees. Her father, Robert J. Gorman, was also an attorney with a practice in Chicago....
, Chicago civil rights attorney - Herb GormanHerb GormanHerbert Allen Gorman was a Major League Baseball player. He had only one at bat in only one game for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1952. Gorman was born San Francisco, California and died in San Diego, California....
, baseball player - James Gorman (journalist) (b. 1949), American journalist
- James Gorman (VC) (1834–1882), English recipient of the Victoria Cross
- James S. GormanJames S. GormanJames Sedgwick Gorman was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Gorman was born in Lyndon Township, Michigan, near Chelsea. He attended the common schools and the Union School of Chelsea, and graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1876. He was...
, U.S. Representative from Michigan - John Gorman (entertainer), British musician, member of the Grimms and The Scaffold
- John Gorman (politician)John Gorman (politician)Sir John Reginald Gorman, CVO, CBE, MC, DL, was between 1998 and 2003 an Ulster Unionist Party MLA for North Down, and one of the tiny number of Roman Catholics to be elected as a Unionist representative in Northern Ireland.-Early life:Born in Omagh, County Tyrone in 1923 and educated at Rockport...
, Northern Ireland politician - Johnny GormanJohnny GormanRory John McCaughan "Johnny" Gorman is an English-born Northern Ireland international footballer signed to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.-Career:Gorman joined Wolves Academy in 2009, after six years at Manchester United...
, (b.1992) (professional footballer), Northern Ireland international footballer - Lou GormanLou GormanJames Gerald "Lou" Gorman was an American baseball executive, and the former general manager of the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball...
(James G. "Lou" Gorman), general manager of the Boston Red Sox 1984-1993 - Margaret GormanMargaret GormanMargaret Gorman is best known for being the first Miss America, from the year 1921.-Miss America:At age 16, Gorman was chosen as "Miss Washington, D.C." due to her athletic ability, past accomplishments, and outgoing personality...
, first Miss America - Melissa GormanMelissa GormanMelissa Anne Gorman is an Australian long distance swimmer.-Career:At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Gorman won a silver medal in the 800 m freestyle....
, Australian long distance swimmer - Michael Gorman (librarian)Michael Gorman (librarian)Michael Gorman is a British-born librarian, library scholar and editor/writer on library issues noted for his traditional views. During his tenure as president of the American Library Association , he was vocal in his opinions on a range of subjects, notably technology and education...
, librarian in California - Michael A. GormanMichael A. GormanMichael A. Gorman was a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's third House district, including constituents in Craven and Pamlico counties, from 2003-2004. An educator from Trent Woods, North Carolina, Gorman lost a primary challenge in 2004, and lost...
, politician in North Carolina - Mike GormanMike GormanMichael "Mike" Gorman is a television play-by-play commentator for the Boston Celtics basketball team, currently broadcasting on the Comcast Sportsnet New England or the New England Sports Network cable channel...
, basketball commentator - Paul GormanPaul GormanPaul Gorman is an English writer.-Career:From 1978, Gorman worked on weekly news for trade publications. In 1983, Gorman won the Periodical Publishers Association award for campaigning journalism for a series of investigative food industry articles and in 1990 was appointed west coast bureau chief...
, London-based journalist, writer and pop culture historian - Paul F. GormanPaul F. GormanPaul Francis Gorman is a retired United States Army four star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Southern Command from 1983 to 1985.-Military career:...
, retired United States Army four star general - R. C. GormanR. C. GormanRudolph Carl Gorman was a Native American artist of the Navajo Nation. Referred to as "the Picasso of American Indian art" by the New York Times, his paintings are primarily of Native American women and characterized by fluid forms and vibrant colors, though he also worked in sculpture, ceramics,...
, Native American artist - painter - Robert J. GormanRobert J. GormanRobert James Gorman was a Chicago attorney who served at Normandy and was in the Jeep that General Dwight D. Eisenhower rode into Paris.Gorman was born in Chicago and died at his Chicago home...
, (1915–2007) prominent Chicago civil rights attorney - Russ Gorman (b. 1927), Australian politician
- Suzy GormanSuzy GormanSuzanne Gorman is an American photographer based in St. Louis. Her client list includes former President Bill Clinton, former First Ladies Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton, and sports and entertainment personalities such as Nelly, Cory Spinks, Bob Costas, Ozzie Smith, Jackie Joyner, and Kathryn...
(b. 1962), American photographer - Teresa GormanTeresa GormanTeresa Ellen Gorman is a British politician, and was Conservative Member of Parliament for Billericay, in the county of Essex in England until 2001 when she stood down...
, British politician, former Conservative Member of Parliament - Tom Gorman (tennis)Tom Gorman (tennis)Tom Gorman is an American tennis player. He attended Seattle Preparatory School and was the Washington State high school tennis champion three years in a row. Gorman attended and graduated from Seattle University and was a two time All-American. He played in professional tour events in the 1960s,...
, player and coach - Tommy GormanTommy GormanThomas Patrick "T. P." Gorman was a founder of the National Hockey League , a winner of seven Stanley Cups as a general manager with four teams, and an Olympic gold medal-winning lacrosse player for Canada....
, NHL, Ottawa Senators general manager - Tom Gorman, MLB, Player
- W. M. GormanW. M. GormanWilliam Moore "Terence" Gorman was an Irish economist and academic. He was predominantly a theorist and is most famous for his work on aggregation and separability of goods, and in this context he developed his famous Gorman polar form...
, Irish economist- Gorman polar formGorman polar formGorman polar form is a functional form for indirect utility functions in economics. Imposing this form on utility allows the researcher to treat a society of utility-maximizers as if it consisted of a single 'representative' individual. W. M...
, named for W. M. Gorman
- Gorman polar form
- Willis A. GormanWillis A. GormanWillis Arnold Gorman was an American lawyer, soldier, politician, and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, U.S. Representative from Indiana; second Territorial Governor of Minnesota