NameCensus.

UK surname

Gorry

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'Gorachaidh" meaning "descendant of the hospitable one".

In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Gorry surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 389, ranked #12,109, up from #27,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Port Glasgow, Harrington and Lancaster Borough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Greenock Upper Central and Lancaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gorry is 389 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 745.7%.

1881 census count

46

Ranked #27,188

Modern count

389

2016, ranked #12,109

Peak year

2013

389 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gorry had 46 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 389 in 2016, ranked #12,109.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 112 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Gorry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gorry surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gorry 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 45 #28,296
1881 historical 46 #27,188
1891 historical 94 #24,820
1901 historical 112 #21,382
1911 historical 99 #22,850
1997 modern 379 #11,447
1998 modern 387 #11,640
1999 modern 386 #11,740
2000 modern 365 #12,196
2001 modern 357 #12,205
2002 modern 366 #12,221
2003 modern 355 #12,285
2004 modern 353 #12,377
2005 modern 357 #12,194
2006 modern 354 #12,339
2007 modern 363 #12,255
2008 modern 376 #12,039
2009 modern 381 #12,174
2010 modern 388 #12,271
2011 modern 375 #12,438
2012 modern 375 #12,292
2013 modern 389 #12,177
2014 modern 387 #12,299
2015 modern 384 #12,276
2016 modern 389 #12,109

Geography

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Where Gorrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Port Glasgow, Harrington, Lancaster Borough, Toxteth Park and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Greenock Upper Central, Lancaster and Greenock West and Central. 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 Port Glasgow Renfrew
2 Harrington Cumberland
3 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 006 Halton
2 Greenock Upper Central Inverclyde
3 Halton 007 Halton
4 Lancaster 016 Lancaster
5 Greenock West and Central Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gorry

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gorry

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gorry, 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 Gorry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Gorry 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Gorry is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gorry 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

Gorry 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 Gorry 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 Gorry, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gorry

The surname Gorry is of Irish origin, with its roots tracing back to the ancient Irish Gaelic language. It is believed to have originated in the 10th or 11th century in the western region of Ireland, particularly in counties such as Galway, Mayo, and Sligo.

One theory suggests that the name Gorry is derived from the Gaelic word "gorm," which means "blue" or "green." This could indicate that the earliest bearers of the name may have had a physical characteristic related to their eye color or complexion. Alternatively, it may have been a descriptive name associated with a place or landscape feature that had a distinctive blue or green hue.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname Gorry can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. It references a notable figure named Tadhg O'Gorry, who lived in the 14th century and was a member of a prominent family in County Mayo.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various legal documents and records, such as the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which were administrative records of the Irish government during the Tudor period. One notable individual from this time was John Gorry, who was born around 1520 in County Galway and served as a member of the Irish Parliament.

During the 17th century, the name Gorry was also associated with several prominent figures in the Catholic Church. One such individual was Father Patrick Gorry, who was born in County Mayo in 1630 and served as a priest and theologian, making significant contributions to the preservation of Irish culture and language.

In the 18th century, the name Gorry gained recognition through the exploits of Captain William Gorry, a renowned Irish soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He was born in County Sligo in 1745 and joined the Continental Army, participating in several key battles and earning a reputation for his bravery and leadership.

Throughout the 19th century, several notable individuals bearing the surname Gorry made their mark in various fields. One such figure was Sir John Gorry, a prominent Irish businessman and philanthropist who was born in County Mayo in 1820. He made significant contributions to the development of industry and education in Ireland and was knighted for his services.

While the surname Gorry is primarily associated with Ireland, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to Irish emigration and diaspora. Today, the name can be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where descendants of Irish immigrants have settled and established themselves.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gorry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gorry 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. Isle of Man leads with 131 Gorrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 408.61x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 131 408.61x
Lancashire 22 1.07x
Renfrewshire 11 8.22x
Worcestershire 5 2.22x
Cumberland 2 1.35x
Perthshire 2 2.58x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.63x
Ayrshire 1 0.77x
Cheshire 1 0.26x
Hampshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. German Peel in Isle of Man leads with 77 Gorrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4162.16x.

Place Total Index
German Peel 77 4162.16x
Rushen 31 1428.57x
Port Glasgow 11 170.02x
German 8 457.14x
Everton 7 10.72x
Fazakerley 7 2187.50x
Lonan 6 309.28x
Norton By Kempsey 5 1020.41x
Toxteth Park 5 7.21x
Onchan 4 43.29x
Patrick 4 256.41x
Aspull 2 41.49x
Whitehaven 2 25.25x
Aldershot 1 8.44x
Birkenhead 1 3.29x
Braddan 1 57.14x
Girvan 1 30.86x
Kinnoull 1 49.02x
Liverpool 1 0.80x
Meldrum 1 74.07x
Port Of Monteith 1 142.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eleanor 7
Ann 6
Margaret 6
Mary 6
Emily 4
Catherine 3
Elizabeth 3
Isabella 3
Margt. 3
Ellen 2
Elsby 2
Jane 2
Annie 1
Cath. 1
Charlotte 1
Christian 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Elizebeth 1
Emma 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Isaline 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lily 1
Maggy 1
Margert 1
Margt.J. 1
Maria 1
Marria 1
Martha 1
Rachel 1
Sarah 1
Susannah 1
Teresa 1
Thos. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 11
James 10
Robert 8
Thomas 6
Charles 5
Edward 5
Henry 3
Claudius 2
David 2
George 2
Joseph 2
Patrick 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Alfred 1
Allan 1
Benjamin 1
Caesar 1
Ceasor 1
Chs. 1
Claudia 1
Freddy 1
Jos. 1
Philip 1
Thos. 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Gorry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gorry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Gorry surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gorry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 389 in 2016. That gives Gorry a modern rank of #12,109.

What does the Gorry surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'Gorachaidh" meaning "descendant of the hospitable one".

What does the Gorry map show?

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