Surname Hurless - Meaning and Origin

Hurless: What does the surname Hurless mean?

The last name Hurless is derived from the Old English words "hyrne" and "hlæwe", which mean "dainty" and "hillock" respectively. This suggests that someone with the Hurless surname originated from a small hill.

The Hurless surname is usually said to have German roots although some names have recently been found to have Dutch or Czech origins. It is likely that the name originated in the Lower Saxony region of Germany. The oldest recorded instances of the Hurless surname are from the 12th century.

Although the exact meaning of the name is not entirely clear, the distinct feature of a hill offers a clue. Hurless could be interpreted to mean “person from the hill” - relating to the hlæwe origin - and could refer to someone who lived atop a hill or was attached to it in some way. Alternatively, the dainty aspect of the Hurless surname could signify an educated family or a family with high-standing in society.

In modern times, the Hurless name has become relatively common in the United States; around 17,000 people living in the US presently have the Hurless surname. Most of them live in the Midwestern states of Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana; areas that German immigrants tended to settle in during the mid-to-late 19th century.

The form of the Hurless name can have many different variations, owing to its Germanic roots. Common spellings include Herle, Hurly, Hurlis, Hurles, and Hurls. In some cases, the ‘s’ at the end of the surname has turned into an ‘e’, e.g. Hurless to Hurle.

Hurless: Where does the name Hurless come from?

The last name Hurless is most commonly found around the state of Ohio in the United States, particularly in and around the cities of Cleveland, Toledo, Akron and Youngstown. Hurless is an Irish surname, likely influenced by Scotland, and was mainly found in the Valley of Shenandoah homesteads of Pennsylvania and the Midwest.

There were at least 125 people living with the Hurless name in Ohio in 2010, most of them living in counties in the Northeast region of the state. Hurless is ranked as the 6,286th most common surname in the United States. Ohio has the third most Hurlesses in the country, while Pennsylvania comes in second and Indiana is third.

The Hurless name can also be found in Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Canada. The highest concentration of Hurlesses living overseas is in Germany, followed by the United Kingdom. The United States still has the highest concentration of Hurlesses in the world though.

The Hurless family tree can be traced back to the late 16th century in Europe. Today many family members have scattered around the world, however, the majority of the Hurless family remain in Ohio.

Variations of the surname Hurless

The surname Hurless is a spelling variation of many different surnames, such as Hortle, Hurley, Hurle, Hurles, Hurl, Hurley, Hartsle, Hurless, Hirles, Huttles, Harles, and Horles. It is believed to have originated in England and is of English or Scottish descent. It is derived from the Old English word hyrl meaning a bread oven or a hill.

The Hurless surname is most commonly found in the United States, with a pretty large population from Pennsylvania. It is not an overly common surname, ranking between 3,601 and 7,000 for commonness in the United States.

Spellings of the Hurless surname can range significantly from the common way it is spelled down to the less common spellings of Harles and Hirles. In some instances, the surname may have retained the old English spelling of Hyrle.

The surname Hurless is also found in other English-speaking countries such as Ireland, Australia, and Canada. In Scotland, the name is spelled Hurley and Hurlees. In Wales, the name is spelled as Hurlles and Hurleye.

For those with the Hurless surname, there can be a deep sense of pride in their roots and family history. Records indicate that those with this spelling of the name have a wealth of information available connecting them to the past, making it easier to connect to family trees. As a result, anyone with the surname Hurless might consider researching the history of their family to learn more about where they come from.

Famous people with the name Hurless

• Jake Hurless: professional skateboarder known for appearing in X-Games, winning a number of vert competitions, and helping to create Zero Skateboards.
• Homer Hurless: World War II veteran, decorated with the Bronze Star and looking back on four years of service with pride.
• Kurt Hurless: professional bodybuilder and personal trainer, specializing in strength and conditioning.
• Hayden Hurless: a STEM advocate from Georgia, a leader in the areas of science and education.
• Debra Hurless: costume designer and wardrobe stylist, adjunct professor at Saint Paul College and active member of the Minnesota Guild.
• Mackenzie Hurless: one of the young, driven, and passionate scientists at the Center for Advanced Research and Technology who works at STEM projects.
• Connie Hurless: an attorney and judge from Maryland, who currently contributes as a coach at the Richard Montgomery High School Mock Trial Program.
• Steve Hurless: actor, filmmaker, and founder of the production company “Hip Horse Pictures”.
• William Hurless: a chess grand master and accomplished mathematician whose work in computational sciences has been lauded by peers worldwide.
• Ben Hurless: professional mountain biker from Santa Barbara, California, racing for the RedBull/Santa Cruz team.

Other surnames

Hurley