Hurley is an Irish surname and given name of Norman origin, derived from the Old French word 'hure', meaning 'spear'. It was originally a nickname for someone who was strong, vigorous, or brave like a spear. The name has been used as both a first name and surname throughout history.
The name Hurley experienced a resurgence in popularity around the turn of the century, with over half (59 out of 78) of its occurrences being recorded between 2008 and 2015. Interestingly, there were periods of significant peaks, such as 19 births between 2008 and 2014, followed by a slight dip to 5 in 2018. The name was quite uncommon during the early to mid-20th century, with only four recorded instances (all being six births) between 1910 and 1935.