Gormley is a surname of Irish origin. The main sept of the clan originated in the north western county of Donegal and the modern barony of Raphoe, in that county, was formerly known by their tribal name of Cinel Moen. The common ancestor and progenitor of these Gormleys was Moen son of Muireadach, son of Eoghan (who gave his name to Tyrone), son of Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Different Septs and spellings
In the "The Annals of the Four Masters" and in the "Topographical Poems" of O'Dugan and O'Heerin, the name is spelt Ó Goirmleadhaigh; the "Annals of Loch Ce" write it Ó Gormshuil and Ó Gormshuiligh: the editor (William Hennessy) writing in 1871 states that the latter was then anglicised O'Gormooly, but Gormley is universal today. The name in means “blue spearman”.
In the Partry Mountains of county Mayo is found a sept also called Gormley, Gormaly and Gormilly. The Irish form of this family's name is Ó Goirmghialla or possibly Ó Gormghaille, both Irish forms meaning “blue hostage”. They were chiefs of this area along with the Darcy or Dorcey family. The present parish of Ballyovey, also called the parish of Partry shows the location of this ancient territory in Mayo. In the area of Lough Key, county Roscommon, we find families of the name (O') Gormaly or Gormally. O'Donovan says that these are quite distinct from the O'Gormleys of Co. Tyrone and that the Irish form of this name is Ó Garmghaile. It is likely that this family is of the same stock as the Mayo sept, but it is unclear of both are related to the main sept of Ulster. In seventeenth century records they are found both as O'Gormley and Mac Gormley, located chiefly in counties Armagh and Derry, but also in Roscommon and Westmeath. Gormleys today are chiefly found in Co. Tyrone and surrounding areas.
Antony Gormley (born 1950), British-born German-Irish sculptor
Beatrice Gormley, American children's writer
Bob Gormley (born 1918), former U.S. soccer forward
Charles Gormley (1937–2005), Scottish film director
Conor Gormley (born 1980), Gaelic footballer from Carrickmore in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Eddie Gormley (born 1968), former Irish football player
Enda Gormley (born 1966), Irish Gaelic footballer
Francis Gormley, Irish politician
Jody Gormley, former Gaelic footballer for Tyrone, and London
Joe Gormley (disambiguation)
Joe Gormley (footballer) (born 1989), football player
Joe Gormley (trade unionist) (1917–1993), British Trade Unionist
John Gormley (born 1959), Irish Green party politician
John Kenneth Gormley (born 1957), Canadian broadcaster and former politician
Joseph L. Gormley (1914–2004), chief of chemistry and toxicology for the FBI
Ken Gormley (academic), constitutional law professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ken Gormley (musician), bass player from Australian band The Cruel Sea
Kiera Gormley, Irish model
Mark Gormley, a singer-songwriter from Pensacola, Florida who achieved internet fame for his music videos on YouTube
Mary Gormley, Irish beauty contestant
Niall Gormley, Gaelic footballer in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Paddy Gormley (1916–2001), Irish nationalist politician
Peter Gormley (died 1998), Australian music manager
Rowan Gormley (born 1962), South African-born entrepreneur
Tad Gormley (1884–1965), former head of the New Orleans Gymnastics Club and Amateur Athletic Union
Tom Gormley (politician) (1916–1984), politician in Northern Ireland
Tom Gormley (American football), former professional football player
Tony Gormley (1962–1987), member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA)
William T. Gormley, professor of Government at Georgetown University
Phillip Gormley, British children's entertainer at National Express
