Surname Orey - Meaning and Origin

Orey: What does the surname Orey mean?

The surname Orey may have multiple possible origins. In some cases, it could be derived from the Gaelic surname O Ruairc, anglicized as O'Rourke, meaning "descendant of Ruairc". Ruairc is a personal name meaning "champion" or "hero". It is common for the "O'" prefix to be dropped in some English-speaking countries, which could have resulted in the surname Orey.

Another possible origin could be from the town of Auray in Brittany, France. Families often took their names from local geographical features or towns, so immigrating families from this region may have modified Auray to Orey.

Lastly, Orey could originate from the Hebrew name Uri meaning "my light".

This surname, like many, could have diverse roots depending on the family's geographical location and history. Therefore, without specific genealogical research, it's difficult to definitively determine the meaning of the surname Orey.

Orey: Where does the name Orey come from?

The last name Orey is primarily found in the Spanish-speaking countries of Central and South America. In particular, it is common in Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala, Cuba, Mexico, and Peru. It is also present in the United States and Canada.

In the US, the Orey surname occurs most frequently in California and Texas, but is found in other states, as well. It is also found in large numbers in Canada, especially in Ontario and Quebec. Additionally, the Orey surname can be found in the European countries of Portugal and Spain.

In Latin America, records indicate that the last name Orey was most likely first used in the Iberian Peninsula during the 13th century, with the prefix "de" affixed to the family name. Also, historians believe that Orey is derived from the old Iberian name for the city of Orihuela in Alicante, Spain.

More recently, the Orey surname is associated with prominent families in Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. One of the most well known families with the name Orey are the Orey Palancas of Cuba who descend from an 18th century Caracas, Venezuela ancestor.

In general, the Orey surname is found in a variety of countries, with the most prominent presence in Latin America. Records from the US, Canada, Portugal, and Spain further confirm the spread of the Orey last name around the world.

Variations of the surname Orey

The surname Orey has various spellings and variants with the same origin. It can be spelled as Orei, Orea, Oree, Oreigh, Oreye, and Orie. These variations are mainly based on the pronunciation in different regions, the local languages, or the historical variants.

In some areas, Orey is spelled as Oreigh, Orie, or Orei. The “gh” in Oreigh indicates a Scottish influence while in some other areas it is spelled as Orea, Oreye, or Orie. The “e” in Orea and Oreye originated from the Latin language and the “i” or “ie” in Orei and Orie implies the Breton language.

In some countries, this surname may appear with the letter ‘y’ as a spelling variant: Orey. This is possibly due to the presence of French language in some parts of Europe. Similarly, in Portugal, Oreo is the variant for the Orey surname.

Orey is also popular as a surname in French-speaking countries, such as, France, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, and North Africa. In Spain, some people spell their surname as Orejuela or Orejón. Furthermore, in Italy, some individuals go by Orri or Orei.

Overall, the various spellings and variants of the Orey surname are used by many families either as their original surname or as a derivative of another surname. Nevertheless, all the spellings and variants are related to the same origin and often have the same meaning and similar pronunciation.

Famous people with the name Orey

• Hugo Orey: He is a Portuguese professional football defender who currently plays for Gil Vicente in Liga Portugal 2.
• Kawena Orey: Kawena is a Hawaiian novelist, playwright, spoken word artist, teacher and hip hop artist.
• Marcel Orey: Marcel is a professional Swiss football midfielder who currently plays for Danubio in the Uruguayan Primera Division.
• Donta Orey: Donta is an American professional basketball coach who currently serves as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA.
• Hugo Orey Jr.: Hugo Jr. is the son of the professional footballer Hugo Orey. He currently plays for Sporting CP's youth teams and has been linked with Premier League clubs such as Leeds United and West Ham United.
• Joël Orey: Joël is a professional French football midfielder who currently plays for Auxerre in the Ligue 2.
• Carlos Orey: Carlos is a professional Brazilian mixed martial artist, who currently fights in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
• Justin Orey: Justin Orey is a French DJ and music producer from Annecy. He is known for his tropical house and electro-pop sound.
• Sergio Orey: Sergio is a Spanish professional football manager and former player. He currently manages Cádiz.
• Ana Orey: Ana is a Spanish professional tennis player who currently competes on the ITF Women's Circuit.

Other surnames

OreOregonOrelOremOrenshaw