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. A second possible origin is English, 14th century and a derivation of the personal name Osmond. This derives from the pre 7th century word "os" meaning God and "mund," a protector, to mean literally either protected by god, or a protector of god. A famous namebearer was Sir James Ormonde, lord-treasurer of Ireland and was knighted for his services during Simnel's Rising. He died in 1497. His father was James Butler, fifth earl of Ormonde. On June 1845, Alfred Ormonde married Waverley Scott, at St. Clement Danes, Westminster. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Ormunde, which was dated 1379, in the "Yorkshire Poll Tax Records", during the reign of King Richard 11, known as "Richard of Bordeaux", 1378 - 1400. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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