Surname Torrey - Meaning and Origin

Torrey: What does the surname Torrey mean?

The surname Torrey is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic word 'torr' meaning hill or mound, indicating that the original bearers of the name lived or worked on a hill. It may also be a locational surname referencing various places in Scotland known as 'Tor' or 'Torre', implying that the family originally came from one of these locations. Like many surnames, Torrey could indicate geographical location, occupation, or even a descriptive nickname of the initial bearer. The name appears in various historical documents dating back to the medieval period, suggesting it has a long history and varied usage. Despite its Scottish origins, it became more widespread through migration and is quite common in North America today.

Torrey: Where does the name Torrey come from?

The surname Torrey is of English origin and is derived from the Old English personal name ‘Þurwald’ or ‘Torwald’, which was composed of the Germanic elements ‘þur’ meaning ‘thorn’ or ‘fierce’ and ‘wald’ meaning ‘rule’. The name initially started out as ‘Torrew’ or ‘Tory’ in England however, over time, the name evolved into Torrey.

In the United States, the Torrey name is most commonly associated with Massachusetts, California, Maine, and New York. In Massachusetts, there are several towns named after the surname including Torrey Hill, Torrey Corner, and Torreyville - all in the Barnstable area.

In terms of living citizens, the last name Torrey can be found in contemporary population records as early as the 1790s. Today, a search of the United States Census Bureau’s population records shows that the Torrey name is still common in many of the areas listed above, as well as in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Montana, Utah, and North Dakota.

In total, the United States Census Bureau records show that there are currently over 14,500 people living with the last name Torrey. As the name has its roots in England, it can also be found with relative frequency in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Torrey

The surname Torrey is thought to have originated from the name ‘de Torai’, which is a Norman French surname. It was first taken on by the family of Baron de Lesseps, who settled in Cornwall, England in the 12th century. Over the centuries, the surname has evolved to include a variety of different spellings and variations.

The most common spelling today is Torrey, but there are also variants such as Torry, Torey, Torrye, Torrie and Tori. Depending on the region of origin, some families might also spell the name as Tirry, Terrey, Torrie, Thorry or Thorrey.

In Scotland, the surname has evolved to include Thorry, which has the same meaning as Torry.

Surnames of similar origin that are derived from the Torreyfamily include Marrey, Torryson, Torrieson, Tirrey, Taurrey, Toreson, Torron, Torrson and Torreon.

The surname Torrey is thought to have its roots in Anglo-Norman and Norman French origin, with the prefixes ‘de’ and ‘tir’. Torrey is mainly found in England, Scotland, Ireland, the United States of America, and other countries in Europe.

Thus, the spellings and variants of the surname Torrey are quite varied and depend heavily upon the place of origin. The most common spelling is Torrey, while the other variants may vary depending on the region of origin.

Famous people with the name Torrey

• Amanda Torrey- director, producer, and actress
• Bill Torrey- former NHL executive
• Bob Torrey- American ornithologist
• Brock Torrey- figure skater
• Chad Torrey- actor
• Edith King Torrey- American suffragist and civil rights activist
• H. M. Torrey- American astronomer
• Jennifer Torrey- actress
• John Torrey- 19th century botanist
• Madison Ewing Torrey- artist and activist
• Mary Emma Torrey- women's rights activist
• Robert Lee Torrey- politician
• Roy Torrey- composer
• Susan Torrey- civil rights activist
• Whitney Torrey- playwright and producer
• Zachary Torrey- actor
• Laura Battle Torrey- Early Texas settler

Other surnames

TorrensTorresTorrez