Ormsby is a surname. The name originates from people of the Southern areas of Scandinavia who would later migrate to Wales & England. In Old Norse the surname is translated to mean either "Home Of Serpents" or "Land Of Dragons", in Old English the name translates to "By The Orm" or in Welsh "By The Elm". The origins of the name date back to the tales of the Viking, Orm, around the year 1050. Orm became famous during a particular raid on Scotland. Before the raiding party had left the Jarl had declared that the first man to set foot on Scottish soil would have first claim to the land. As the Vikings neared the Scottish coast, they were intercepted by the natives & a sea battle ensued. During the battle, Orm's leg was severed from his body. This did not stop him from fighting though, & as the days battle came to an end, the Vikings were victorious & made their way towards the coast. As his ship drew near the beach, Orm picked up his severed leg & hurled it at the beach. This signified he was the first man to set foot on Scotland & therefore earned the claim of the land. This is why when you look at the Ormsby coat of arms or family crest you will notice a severed leg in the artwork. Notable people with the surname include: *

Alan Ormsby Alan Ormsby (born December 14, 1943) is an American director, screenwriter, make up artist, actor and author. Film career Ormsby began work in feature films with the Bob Clark-directed '' Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things'' (1972), which ...

(born 1944), American director and screenwriter * Brendan Ormsby (born 1960), English professional footballer *

Eric Ormsby Eric Linn Ormsby (born 1941 in Atlanta, Georgia) is deputy head of academic research and publications at the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London. He was formerly a professor at McGill University Institute of Islamic Studies, where he also s ...

(born 1941), American poet and a man of letters *

Frank Ormsby Francis Arthur Ormsby (born 1947) is a Northern Irish author and poet. Life Frank Ormsby was born in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh. He was educated at St Michael's College, Enniskillen and then Queen's University Belfast. From 1976 until his r ...

(born 1947), Northern Irish poet * Hilda Ormsby, (1877-1973), British geographer * John Ormsby (disambiguation), multiple people * Kristian Ormsby (born 1980), New Zealand rugby union player * Len Ormsby (1890–1983), American racecar driver * Mary Ormsby (born 1960), Canadian associate sports writer *

George Ormsby-Gore, 3rd Baron Harlech George Ralph Charles Ormsby-Gore, 3rd Baron Harlech, (21 January 1855 – 8 May 1938), was a British soldier and Conservative Member of Parliament. Background and education Harlech was the son of William Richard Ormsby-Gore, 2nd Baron Harlech, ...

(1855–1938), Conservative British MP * Oliver Ormsby (1767–1832) American businessman in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania *

Stephen Ormsby Stephen Ormsby (1759March 4, 1844) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky. He was born in County Sligo, Ireland, immigrated to the United States when a boy, and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He pursued classical studies and studied la ...

(1759–1844), U.S. Representative from Kentucky *

Waterman Ormsby Waterman Lily Ormsby (September 9, 1809 – November 1, 1883) was an American engraver and inventor who founded the Continental Bank Note Company and invented a pantographic engraving machine called the grammagraph to produce "roll-die" engraving ...

(1809–1883), a 19th-century banknote engraver, inventor and artist * Waterman L. Ormsby (1834–1908), correspondent for the ''New York Herald'' and ''Western explorer''

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