NameCensus.

UK surname

Gora

A surname originating from the Polish word for "mountain".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Gora surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 365, ranked #12,721, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Sandwell and Walsall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gora is 365 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36400.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

365

2016, ranked #12,721

Peak year

2016

365 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gora had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 365 in 2016, ranked #12,721.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 21 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Gora surname distribution map

The map shows where the Gora surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Gora surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gora over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 5 #32,456
1861 historical 21 #31,242
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 16 #32,868
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 142 #21,856
1998 modern 142 #22,406
1999 modern 140 #22,789
2000 modern 146 #22,170
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 177 #19,549
2004 modern 196 #18,438
2005 modern 208 #17,687
2006 modern 257 #15,448
2007 modern 270 #15,080
2008 modern 288 #14,537
2009 modern 276 #15,300
2010 modern 291 #15,050
2011 modern 299 #14,631
2012 modern 317 #13,960
2013 modern 332 #13,713
2014 modern 349 #13,293
2015 modern 348 #13,221
2016 modern 365 #12,721

Geography

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Where Goras are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Sandwell, Walsall and Lichfield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 013 Kirklees
2 Sandwell 019 Sandwell
3 Walsall 034 Walsall
4 Kirklees 010 Kirklees
5 Lichfield 011 Lichfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gora

These lists show first names that appear often with the Gora surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gora

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gora, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Gora surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Gora household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Gora is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gora is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gora falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gora is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gora, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gora

The surname GORA has its origins in Poland, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is derived from the Polish word "gora," which means "mountain" or "hill." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near or worked in a mountainous area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GORA surname can be found in the 1386 Akta Grodzkie, a collection of court records from the Krakow region. Here, a person named Jan GORA is mentioned in connection with a land dispute.

In the 16th century, the GORA name appears in various church records and tax rolls across Poland. For example, a Maciej GORA is listed as a landowner in the village of Wola Gora in 1532. This place name, which means "Mountain Village," further reinforces the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the GORA name remained mostly concentrated in the southern regions of Poland, particularly around the areas of Krakow and the Carpathian Mountains. However, as people began to migrate more widely, the name spread to other parts of the country and even beyond its borders.

One notable bearer of the GORA surname was Stanisław GORA (1592-1649), a Polish priest and theologian who served as the rector of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. Another was Józef GORA (1804-1866), a Polish writer and journalist who played an active role in the November Uprising against Russian rule.

In the 19th century, the GORA name also gained prominence in the United States, as many Polish immigrants arrived seeking new opportunities. One such individual was Franciszek GORA (1857-1925), a businessman and community leader who helped establish the Polish National Alliance, a fraternal organization that supported Polish immigrants in America.

Other notable individuals with the GORA surname include Kazimierz GORA (1888-1975), a Polish painter and art teacher who was part of the Colorist movement, and Józef GORA (1910-1990), a Polish athlete who competed in the long jump at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Gora surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gora surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Gora surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gora surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 365 in 2016. That gives Gora a modern rank of #12,721.

What does the Gora surname mean?

A surname originating from the Polish word for "mountain".

What does the Gora map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gora bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.