NameCensus.

UK surname

Gormally

Irish surname referring to a fertile, agricultural place or fields.

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Gormally surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 151, ranked #23,615, up from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Rossendale and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gormally is 177 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1158.3%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

151

2016, ranked #23,615

Peak year

1999

177 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gormally had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016, ranked #23,615.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 47 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Gormally surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gormally surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gormally 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 15 #31,942
1881 historical 12 #31,914
1891 historical 28 #32,046
1901 historical 42 #29,487
1911 historical 47 #28,110
1997 modern 172 #19,371
1998 modern 164 #20,505
1999 modern 177 #19,670
2000 modern 167 #20,332
2001 modern 158 #20,788
2002 modern 163 #20,767
2003 modern 157 #21,026
2004 modern 166 #20,441
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 152 #21,721
2007 modern 152 #22,022
2008 modern 152 #22,225
2009 modern 160 #21,978
2010 modern 166 #21,941
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 153 #22,963
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 152 #23,631
2015 modern 152 #23,507
2016 modern 151 #23,615

Geography

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Where Gormallys 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 Wigan, Rossendale and Manchester. 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 Wigan 010 Wigan
2 Wigan 006 Wigan
3 Rossendale 010 Rossendale
4 Wigan 015 Wigan
5 Manchester 003 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gormally

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gormally

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Gormally surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Gormally household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Gormally 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

Gormally is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gormally 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 Gormally 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
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Gormally

The surname Gormally originated in Ireland, with its roots traceable to the early medieval period. It is a anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Gormghaile, which translates to "descendant of Gormghail." Gormghail was derived from the Old Irish words "gorm," meaning blue, and "ghal," meaning valor or bravery, suggesting that the name may have been given to someone with blue eyes or brave in battle.

The Gormally clan was initially based in County Tyrone, Ireland, where they held significant influence and landholdings. The name can be found in various ancient Irish records, such as the Annals of the Four Masters, which document important events and genealogies from the earliest times.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gormally can be found in the 14th century, when a Sir John Gormally was mentioned as a prominent figure in County Tyrone. Another notable bearer of the name was Teige Gormally, born in 1580, who served as a member of the Irish Parliament and was involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the spelling of the name varied considerably, with forms like Gormley, Gormly, and Gormeley appearing in historical records. The Gormally surname was also associated with specific place names in Ireland, such as Gormally's Hollow and Gormally's Hill, reflecting the clan's territorial holdings.

In the 18th century, a notable figure was Edmond Gormally (1700-1773), an Irish Catholic priest and writer who published several works on religious and philosophical topics. Another prominent individual was Hugh Gormally (1741-1804), an Irish politician and landowner who served as a member of the Irish House of Commons.

As the Irish diaspora spread across the globe, the Gormally surname traveled with them. In the 19th century, John Gormally (1806-1870), an Irish-born American Catholic priest, became a prominent figure in the Catholic Church in the United States, serving as the first bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas.

The surname Gormally has a rich history rooted in the annals of Irish culture and tradition, with its bearers playing significant roles in various spheres throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gormally families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gormally 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. Angus leads with 4 Gormallys recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.93x.

County Total Index
Angus 4 36.93x
Lanarkshire 3 7.94x
Lancashire 3 2.16x
Durham 2 5.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liff Benvie in Angus leads with 4 Gormallys recorded in 1881 and an index of 243.90x.

Place Total Index
Liff Benvie 4 243.90x
Widnes 3 300.00x
Gateshead 2 76.92x
Govan 2 21.39x
Barony 1 10.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Bernard 1
James 1
John 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Gormally households.

FAQ

Gormally surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gormally surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Gormally surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gormally surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016. That gives Gormally a modern rank of #23,615.

What does the Gormally surname mean?

Irish surname referring to a fertile, agricultural place or fields.

What does the Gormally map show?

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