NameCensus.

UK surname

Gorrie

Of Scottish origin, referring to someone who lived near a gorge or ravine.

In the 1881 census there were 640 people recorded with the Gorrie surname, ranking it #5,564 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 613, ranked #8,566, down from #5,564 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Methven, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stobswell, Niddrie and Elie Colinsburgh and Largoward.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gorrie is 769 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.2%.

1881 census count

640

Ranked #5,564

Modern count

613

2016, ranked #8,566

Peak year

1901

769 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gorrie had 640 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,564 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 613 in 2016, ranked #8,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 769 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Gorrie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gorrie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gorrie 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 504 #4,961
1861 historical 539 #4,868
1881 historical 640 #5,564
1891 historical 726 #5,450
1901 historical 769 #5,824
1911 historical 145 #18,255
1997 modern 604 #8,102
1998 modern 631 #8,095
1999 modern 634 #8,118
2000 modern 633 #8,101
2001 modern 612 #8,164
2002 modern 630 #8,163
2003 modern 627 #8,040
2004 modern 624 #8,099
2005 modern 614 #8,134
2006 modern 626 #8,029
2007 modern 637 #7,998
2008 modern 627 #8,131
2009 modern 625 #8,328
2010 modern 630 #8,466
2011 modern 604 #8,647
2012 modern 622 #8,354
2013 modern 640 #8,312
2014 modern 632 #8,434
2015 modern 618 #8,530
2016 modern 613 #8,566

Geography

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Where Gorries are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Methven, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Crieff and Perth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stobswell, Niddrie, Elie Colinsburgh and Largoward, South Angus and IZ13. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Methven Perth
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Crieff Perth
5 Perth Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stobswell Dundee City
2 Niddrie City of Edinburgh
3 Elie Colinsburgh and Largoward Fife
4 South Angus Angus
5 IZ13 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gorrie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gorrie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Gorrie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Gorrie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gorrie is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gorrie is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gorrie falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gorrie

The surname Gorrie has its origins in the Scottish Highlands, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "gorm," meaning "blue" or "green," and is believed to have been a descriptive name given to someone with bluish-green eyes or someone who wore clothing of those colors.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1296, where a person named Adam Gorm is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests that the name may have initially been pronounced with a more guttural sound.

In the 16th century, the Gorrie family was prominent in the parish of Kilspindie, near Perth, Scotland. Records from that time show several individuals with the surname, including John Gorrie, who was a landowner in the area in the late 1500s.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Gorries were known for their involvement in the Scottish wool trade. Notable figures included James Gorrie (1632-1708), a successful merchant and landowner in Perth, and his son, William Gorrie (1669-1741), who served as a magistrate in the city.

In the 19th century, the Gorrie name spread beyond Scotland as individuals emigrated to other parts of the world. One notable figure was John Gorrie (1803-1855), a physician from Apalachicola, Florida, who is credited with inventing the first mechanical refrigeration system and is considered the father of air conditioning.

Another prominent Gorrie was Sir John Gorrie (1836-1920), a Scottish civil engineer who was involved in the construction of several major railway lines in India, including the Khyber Pass Railway. He was knighted in 1897 for his contributions to the British Empire.

Other notable individuals with the surname Gorrie include Alexander Gorrie (1888-1965), a Scottish politician and member of parliament, and James Gorrie (1903-1981), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.

While the Gorrie surname may have originated as a descriptive name, it has since become a proud part of Scottish heritage, with individuals bearing the name making significant contributions across various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gorrie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gorrie 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. Perthshire leads with 175 Gorries recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.65x.

County Total Index
Perthshire 175 62.65x
Angus 121 20.99x
Lanarkshire 71 3.53x
Fife 52 14.11x
Stirlingshire 44 19.17x
Lancashire 29 0.39x
Midlothian 28 3.36x
Middlesex 19 0.31x
Surrey 18 0.59x
Orkney 17 24.83x
Argyllshire 10 5.77x
Dunbartonshire 9 5.38x
Renfrewshire 7 1.45x
Morayshire 6 6.20x
Glamorgan 4 0.37x
Hertfordshire 3 0.70x
Kent 3 0.14x
Leicestershire 3 0.43x
Wigtownshire 3 3.63x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.35x
Ayrshire 2 0.43x
Berwickshire 2 2.65x
Dumfriesshire 2 1.45x
Buteshire 1 2.65x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Clackmannanshire 1 1.95x
Cumberland 1 0.19x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Westmorland 1 0.73x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 68 Gorries recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.59x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 68 31.59x
Liff Benvie 43 49.13x
Perth East Church 36 136.73x
Govan 28 5.62x
Crieff 24 230.99x
Denny 20 163.80x
Methven 20 489.00x
Perth West Church 16 120.75x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 4.47x
Auchtergaven 12 256.41x
Newburgh 12 256.41x
Barony 11 2.16x
Carluke 11 60.18x
Falkirk 11 20.47x
Lambeth 11 2.03x
Ardoch 10 425.53x
Ferry Port On Craig 10 165.02x
Redgorton 10 322.58x
Rattray 9 138.46x
St Pancras London 9 1.80x
Old Monkland 8 10.02x
Stromness 8 155.64x
Cardross 7 34.86x
Glasgow 7 1.96x
Neilston 7 28.91x
Walls Flotta 7 218.07x
Wemyss 7 44.90x
Blairgowrie 6 54.30x
Bothkennar 6 87.59x
Ceres 6 135.44x
Dunfermline 6 10.59x
Dyke 6 226.42x
Liverpool 6 1.34x
Maryhill 6 15.23x
Rotherhithe 6 7.80x
West Derby 6 2.78x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.40x
Lochee 5 97.28x
Manchester 5 1.51x
Abbotshall 4 29.05x
Kilbrandon 4 138.41x
Kirkdale 4 3.22x
Monzie 4 250.00x
Perth St Pauls 4 61.82x
Roath 4 8.13x
St Vigeans 4 12.85x
Barrow In Furness 3 2.99x
Comrie 3 75.19x
Kinclaven 3 236.22x
Leicester St Margaret 3 1.78x
Lismore Appin 3 52.08x
Sorbie 3 83.10x
South Leith 3 3.20x
St Ninians 3 13.19x
Cumbernauld 2 21.83x
Cummertrees 2 85.84x
Dalkeith 2 12.16x
Dunblane 2 29.94x
Dunning 2 57.31x
Dunoon 2 56.18x
Edinburgh Canongate 2 9.43x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 11.56x
Edinburgh St Marys 2 12.34x
Everton 2 0.85x
Kinnoull 2 27.25x
Kirkcaldy 2 10.95x
Larbert 2 14.58x
Loudoun 2 17.86x
Monimail 2 111.11x
North Mimms 2 74.07x
Perth Middle Church 2 19.05x
Polworth 2 416.67x
St Marylebone London 2 0.60x
Torryburn 2 125.79x
Wigan 2 1.94x
Auchterarder 1 12.82x
Fowlis Wester 1 42.02x
Kilmory 1 18.21x
Lewisham 1 0.88x
Polmont 1 11.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Annie 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Eliz. 2
Euphemia 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Marie 2
Amy 1
Charlotte 1
E.E. 1
E.J.E. 1
Eliza 1
Flora 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Jeannie 1
Jessie 1
Lillian 1
Lizzie 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1
Robina 1
Sarah 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 6
William 5
Daniel 4
David 3
John 3
Archibald 2
Edward 2
A. 1
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Charles 1
Douglas 1
Harry 1
J. 1
Joseph 1
Nowla 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
T.E. 1

FAQ

Gorrie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gorrie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 640 people were recorded with the Gorrie surname. That placed it at #5,564 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gorrie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 613 in 2016. That gives Gorrie a modern rank of #8,566.

What does the Gorrie surname mean?

Of Scottish origin, referring to someone who lived near a gorge or ravine.

What does the Gorrie map show?

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