Surname O'Gorman - Meaning and Origin

O'Gorman: What does the surname O'Gorman mean?

The surname O'Gorman is an Irish name derived from the Irish Gaelic ‘O Gormain,’ meaning 'son of Gorman.'

The name Gorman is a Munster surname that means ‘son of the blue-eyed one.’ It comes from the Old Irish name, ‘Gormáin’ which dates back to the 10th century.

The O'Gorman name is traditionally associated with County Cork, their ancestral homeland. The O'Gormans were a notable family in the area in and around Cork. They held much political influence and were recognized for their talents in arts and literature.

In modern times, O'Gormans are found throughout Ireland, Australia, and other parts of the world as many Irish immigrants have traveled abroad in search of a better life.

For those who are proud to carry the O'Gorman name, a badge of Irish heritage and pride accompanies it. It celebrates the contributions the O’Gormans have made to Irish culture.

To be an O'Gorman is to have a sense of place, descended from a long lineage of people who believed in their power, in their land, and in their roots.

O'Gorman: Where does the name O'Gorman come from?

The last name O'Gorman is fairly common today in predominantly English-speaking countries, but is most pronounced in Ireland, where up to 754 people share the name according to the 2016 census. The O’Gorman clan has a centuries-old history as one of the most influential and venerable ancient Irish surnames. According to local folklore, the O’Gorman surname descended from Cormac, a prince and scholar of the tenth century A.D. and the ancestor of the O'Gorman clan.

Though the name originated in Ireland, the O’Gormans have long since scattered across the globe as immigrants and settlers. As a result, the name is also quite common in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and even some countries of the British Isles, such as England, Scotland and Wales.

In the United States, the name is most commonly found in the northeast, especially the states of Pennsylvania and New York. Additionally, there are a significant number of O’Gormans in California, Illinois, Texas, Florida and other states. The 2010 United States Census found a total of 8,680 people living in America with the last name O'Gorman.

Though a distinctly Irish surname, the legacy and placename of the O'Gormans have spread throughout the modern world, with O'Gorman descendants scattered in many countries and on all continents.

Variations of the surname O'Gorman

The surname O'Gorman is an Irish clan name and can be spelled in several ways.

The original Irish spelling of O'Gorman is Ó Gormáin and is derived from the Irish Gaelic phrase, “ó gorm,” which means “dark blue.” This sept of ui Fidhgeinte was located in the modern-day County Tipperary in Ireland.

Variations of this spelling include Gowran, Gorman, Gormann, Gormen, Gormley, and Gorman. In some cases, the prefix “O'” has been anglicised, giving rise to spellings such as Gormans, Gormley, Gormly, and Garmon.

Some of the many variant spellings of O'Gorman, with the 'O' prefix or without, are Gormons, Goarman, Gorran, Guarman, Goermen, Guermen, Gorme, Gormy, Greaman, Gormon, Gormsley, Gessman, Garsman, Gorvin, Cormann, Cormeneman, Cormenaben, Corfman, and Carman.

These days, O'Gorman is also seen as a common surname in Scotland. It is believed to have been brought there by Irish migrants in the 19th century.

In addition to the often-used form of O'Gorman, the surname has been Anglicized in a variety of other ways, such as O’Gormain, Ogorman, Gormen, Gorman, Gormin, Gorne, Gormey, Gorkin, Goersman, Germon, Garmans, Gorough, Gormann, Gimens, Gormson, and Gormeth.

In short, the surname O'Gorman can be found in many different forms throughout Ireland and Scotland, as well as the rest of the world, and has many spelling variations and other surnames of the same origin.

Famous people with the name O'Gorman

• Tim O'Gorman: An Irish actor who has been featured in films and television shows such as The Wind That Shakes The Barley, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Vikings.
• Brendan O'Gorman: An Irish-born sculptor who has created works such as the Grand Jig and Gold Galleon sculptures, and displayed at various galleries and exhibitions throughout Europe.
• John O'Gorman: An Irish architect and urban planner who designed several iconic buildings such as County Hall in Cork and the National Library of Ireland in Dublin, respectively.
• Jim O'Gorman: A former Irish footballer who played for the Irish national team, as well as his local teams, Bohemians and Shelbourne throughout his career.
• David O'Gorman: An Irish-Canadian actor, writer and producer known for his roles in X-Men and Legends of the Fall, as well as other acting credits.
• Aoife O'Gorman: An Irish composer and astrophysicist who has created a variety of choral works, inspired by the universe, and often performed by her own choir.
• Eilis O'Gorman: An Irish actress and director who has acted in various theatre performances across the country.
• Jackie O'Gorman: A late Irish artist who founded the Irish-American cellist Ensemble.
• Molly O'Gorman: A professional figure skater who has won titles such as national and international championships since the age of just seven.
• Anne O'Gorman: An Irish uprising veteran of the Easter Rebellion who had a major role in the fight for freedom of Ireland, amongst other individuals.

Other surnames

O'GormleyO'Gormooly