From a Scottish place name derived from Gaelic 'torr' meaning 'little hills' or 'rocky peaks'.
Torrance is a name of Scottish and Irish origin, transferred from a place name meaning "little hills" or "rocky hillside" — derived from the Gaelic "torr," a high rocky peak or craggy prominence. There are several small settlements called Torrance in Scotland, particularly in South Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire, and the name passed into use as both a surname and, eventually, a given name through the long tradition of clan and family names finding new life as first names in the Scottish diaspora. The city of Torrance in California — founded in 1912 and named after its developer, Jared Sydney Torrance — gave the name broader American recognition through the twentieth century, though it remained primarily a surname.
In literature and film, perhaps the most vivid bearer is Jack Torrance, the terrifying protagonist of Stephen King's 1977 novel "The Shining" and Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film adaptation. Jack Nicholson's iconic portrayal gave the name an indelible cultural imprint, one that paradoxically both raised its profile and complicated its appeal for a generation of parents. Stripped of that cinematic shadow, Torrance has considerable virtues as a given name: it is strong and geographic in the manner of names like Rowan, Heath, or Ridge; it works across genders; and it carries genuine Celtic heritage without feeling overly antiquarian.
The nickname "Tor" gives it an even more elemental, rugged quality. For families with Scottish roots or simply an affinity for place-anchored names, Torrance offers a name with real landscape in it.