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The Ancient History of the surname Ormsby
ORM was a Viking who was born in the early part of the eighth century in what is known now as Sweden, he was noted for his tremendous skill in battle and also in his great strength. However, it seems that in battle he was apt to become subject to strange fits of beserk rage and frequently flung down his weapon and would rush unarmed to meet his adversary, and later, as we will see, this led to his down fall.
Ther are many stories told about ORM, some which have some foundation of truth. It is said that he used to wield a sword with one hand that any other man would have diffuculty in wielding with two hands.
It is also said, that on one occasion, he was to have crushed the skull of a large bear, which attacked him, with one blow of his fist.
He joined a Viking sea King, (Stirgud the Stout) who was going to the Scottish coast, he and a handful of men under his leadership, in their Viking Long Boat, were welcomed as an addition to the party.
As they neared the coast of Scotland, the Scots came out in their own ships to give battle. The Vikings, fearful that the Scots were too strong to overpower, and wishing to spur his men to greater effort, called them together and promised that he would grant the rulership of the captured territory to the first man who put his foot on Scottish soil. The battle with the Scots, was fought about a mile from the coast of Scotland, and as the Scottish ships drew closer, the Vikings swarmed on board. Although outnumbered three to one by the Scots, they were able to defeat them.
When Orm's ship came alongside of one of the Scottish ships, ORM was the first to board, and it was said, that with one blow of his mighty sword. He killed the three leading Scots, and laying about, he had accounted for about six of the Scots when he was overcome by one of his uncontrollable fits of berserk rage. Flinging aside his sword, he rushed at his nearest foeman and, lifting him high in the air he smote his head on the side of the ship, bashing out his brains. But in doing so he neglected his other foeman, and as he turned to defend himself, the broad axe of a Scottish Chieftain severed his leg just above the knee. Notwithstanding this ORM appears to have encircled the Scottish Chief in his arms and crushed the life from him. Evidently this incident marked the end of the battle and ORM appears to have killed, with the aid of his crew, the crew of the Scottish Chieftains boat, which outnumbered them three to one. With rude surgery that the Vikings had, they succeded in bandaging Orm’s leg and as the night was drawing near, they spent it about one mile from the coast of Scotland.
Next morning, ORM, despite his frightful injury, insisted on taking leadership of his crew, and as the Viking ship neared the coast ORM picked up his severed leg and threw it on the shore before the others had the opportunity to land, and claimed the reward for having been the first man of the crew to put his foot on Scottish soil.
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