ORMONDE Family History

Recorded as Ormond, Ormonde, Orman, and possibly other, this is a surname of at least two possible origins. Firstly it may be a development of the old Gaelic-Irish surname O' Ruaidh, composed of the elements O' meaning male descendant of and "ruaidh" red, and refering to the original chief who presumably was red haired. At first it was known as O' Rooe but was altered by folk etymology to resemble a region in east Munster known as Ormond. The surname beinfg mainly recorded in the counties of Cork and Waterford.