The Clan/Sept History

The Irish name O Hurley comes from the Gaelic "O hUirthile." Interestingly, the
name has also been rendered Cammane, based on a translation for the Irish word
for a hurley (stick).

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hurley, Hurlie, O'Hurley,
O'Hurlie, Commane and many more.
First found in Limerick, where they were anciently seated as Lords and Chiefs of
Knockalong Castle in the parish and barony of Knockalong, Costlea, the ruins of
which still exist. 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 Rath Hurly, another of their ancient castles which is now in
ruins in Kilcullane, in Small barony, Kilcullane, a castle they erected in 1464.
The sept is descended from the race of Brenan Ban, on the O'Brien line. Later
they built another strong castle in the parish of Kilnelonahan, where Dermod
O'Hurley, built his fortress.
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were:
Darby Hurlie, who settled in St. Christopher in 1635; Tusloe Urley, who arrived
in Maryland in 1682; John Murley, who settled in New York, NY in 1820.