Quote:
Originally Posted by scottish_flame
Support for William of Orange in the British Isles led to the formation of Orange Societies to commemorate his victory at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690, |
That provides the etymology of the name, but the blanket title of "Orange Societies" to encompass various groups is not a synonym for the Orange Order itself. That one was formed in 1795 for reasons that bore little resemblance to celebrating William's victory in Boyne.