NameCensus.

UK surname

Gorey

A locational surname referring to someone from Goring, Oxfordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 106 people recorded with the Gorey surname, ranking it #19,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 108, ranked #29,578, down from #19,083 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to South Stoneham, London parishes and Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Oldham and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gorey is 133 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.9%.

1881 census count

106

Ranked #19,083

Modern count

108

2016, ranked #29,578

Peak year

2002

133 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gorey had 106 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,083 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016, ranked #29,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Gorey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gorey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gorey 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 101 #20,955
1881 historical 106 #19,083
1891 historical 119 #21,415
1901 historical 102 #22,596
1911 historical 98 #22,959
1997 modern 125 #23,567
1998 modern 120 #24,793
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 118 #25,197
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 133 #23,585
2003 modern 121 #24,776
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 116 #25,564
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 115 #27,207
2010 modern 117 #27,557
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 111 #28,856
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 108 #29,578

Geography

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Where Goreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around South Stoneham, London parishes, Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner, Portsmouth, Portsea and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, Oldham, Cardiff and Southwark. 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 South Stoneham Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner Hampshire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 103 Birmingham
2 Oldham 035 Oldham
3 Cardiff 035 Cardiff
4 Southwark 008 Southwark
5 Oldham 012 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gorey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gorey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gorey, 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 Gorey 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 Gorey 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Gorey is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gorey 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

Gorey falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gorey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Gorey

The surname Gorey is believed to have originated in the Channel Islands, specifically on the island of Guernsey. It is derived from the Norman French word "goret," which means a small pig or piglet. The name likely referred to someone who worked with pigs or lived near a piggery.

Gorey is an anglicized spelling of the original Norman French surname "Goret" or "Gouret." The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century in Guernsey. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Richard Gorey, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Guernsey in 1259.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records and documents across the Channel Islands and parts of Normandy, France. For instance, the Livre des Bourgeoisies de Guernesey, a historical record of Guernsey residents, mentions a Jean Gorey in 1331.

Some notable individuals with the surname Gorey throughout history include:

1. Peter Gorey (c. 1520-1594), a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the reign of Queen Mary I of England.

2. Thomas Gorey (1631-1683), an English Puritan minister and author, best known for his work "The Doctrine of the Trinity Stated and Defended."

3. Edward Gorey (1925-2000), an American writer and artist renowned for his illustrated books and distinctive gothic style.

4. John Gorey (1938-2017), a British Anglican bishop who served as the Bishop of Leeds from 1991 to 2003.

5. James Gorey (born 1954), an American artist and illustrator known for his work in children's books and graphic novels.

The surname Gorey has also been associated with various place names, particularly in the Channel Islands and parts of Normandy. For example, the village of Gorey in Jersey is believed to have derived its name from the surname, although the exact origin is uncertain.

While the surname Gorey is not among the most common surnames, it has a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in the Channel Islands and parts of France and England, where it has been present for centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gorey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gorey surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hampshire leads with 39 Goreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.06x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 39 18.06x
Middlesex 18 1.71x
Lancashire 13 1.04x
Surrey 12 2.34x
Northamptonshire 9 9.08x
Bedfordshire 6 11.00x
Sussex 4 2.25x
Devon 3 1.37x
Royal Navy 2 15.94x
Glamorgan 1 0.55x
Wiltshire 1 1.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Andover in Hampshire leads with 7 Goreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 343.14x.

Place Total Index
Andover 7 343.14x
East Haddon 7 2592.59x
Millbrook 7 128.68x
Oldham 7 17.35x
Epsom 6 240.00x
Hackney London 6 10.16x
Luton 6 63.56x
Titchfield 6 368.10x
Bethnal Green London 5 10.93x
Islington London 5 4.90x
Battersea 4 10.32x
South Stoneham 4 85.47x
Alverstoke 3 38.36x
Brighton 3 8.37x
Knowsley 3 666.67x
North Stoneham 3 612.24x
Stoke Damerel 3 19.54x
Croydon 2 7.02x
Portsea 2 4.73x
Rowner 2 2857.14x
Royal Navy 2 18.64x
St Mary Extra 2 114.94x
Watford 2 1176.47x
Wymering 2 555.56x
Great Bolton 1 6.04x
Llandaff 1 16.39x
Manchester 1 1.78x
Poplar London 1 5.03x
Pulborough 1 153.85x
Southampton St Mary 1 7.36x
Swindon 1 13.83x
Twickenham 1 22.12x
Worsley 1 12.97x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gorey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gorey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
George 11
William 11
John 7
Henry 3
James 3
Richard 3
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
Fred 2
W. 2
Andrew 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Horace 1
J. 1
Job 1
R. 1
Willm.H. 1

FAQ

Gorey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gorey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 106 people were recorded with the Gorey surname. That placed it at #19,083 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gorey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016. That gives Gorey a modern rank of #29,578.

What does the Gorey surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Goring, Oxfordshire, England.

What does the Gorey map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gorey 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.