UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from the French word "gourlie" meaning "cuff" or "wristband."
In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Gourlie surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #23,950 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Dalziel and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gourlie is 122 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 85.3%.
1881 census count
68
Ranked #23,950
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1861
122 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gourlie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gourlie surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 99 | #17,294 |
| 1861 | historical | 122 | #18,036 |
| 1881 | historical | 68 | #23,950 |
| 1891 | historical | 67 | #28,424 |
| 1901 | historical | 53 | #28,271 |
| 1911 | historical | 12 | #32,302 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Dalziel, Govan Combination, Westruther and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bothwell | Lanark |
| 2 | Dalziel | Lanark |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Westruther | Berwick |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gourlie surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gourlie, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Gourlie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gourlie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Gourlie is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gourlie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gourlie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gourlie is of Scottish origin, originating from the lands of Gourlie or Gourlay near the village of Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "gour" meaning "muddy" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing," suggesting the name's connection to a muddy or marshy meadow.
The earliest recorded reference to the name Gourlie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. In this record, the name appears as "Gourlay." This spelling variation persisted for several centuries, with other variations such as "Gourlie," "Gourlay," and "Gourley" appearing in various historical documents.
One of the earliest notable individuals bearing this surname was Sir William Gourlay, a Scottish knight who fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. He was granted lands in Fife for his loyalty and bravery.
In the 16th century, the Gourlie family held significant landholdings in the areas of Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch in Renfrewshire. John Gourlie, born in 1530, was a prominent landowner and influential figure in the region during that time.
The Gourlie surname also appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where several individuals bearing the name are listed as having sworn allegiance to King Edward I of England. This includes Andrew Gourlay, Walter Gourlay, and Robert Gourlay, among others.
Another notable individual with the surname Gourlie was Robert Fleming Gourlie, a Scottish mathematician and astronomer born in 1778. He made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy, publishing several works on celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits.
In the literary world, John Gourlie, a Scottish poet and songwriter born in 1751, is known for his works celebrating the beauty of the Scottish landscape and rural life. His poems and songs, written in the Scots dialect, were popular in his time and helped preserve the rich cultural heritage of Scotland.
While the surname Gourlie is not as common as some other Scottish surnames, it has a rich history rooted in the lands of Renfrewshire and has been borne by notable individuals throughout the centuries, from knights and landowners to scholars and literary figures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gourlie surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 47 Gourlies recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.91x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 47 | 21.91x |
| Dunbartonshire | 12 | 67.34x |
| Dumfriesshire | 3 | 20.48x |
| Fife | 2 | 5.09x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 2.25x |
| Kincardineshire | 1 | 12.38x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 19 Gourlies recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.82x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Govan | 19 | 35.82x |
| Glasgow | 7 | 18.38x |
| Row | 7 | 303.03x |
| Barony | 6 | 11.05x |
| Bothwell | 5 | 85.91x |
| Cumbernauld | 5 | 510.20x |
| Dalziel | 5 | 216.45x |
| Rutherglen | 5 | 158.73x |
| Annan | 2 | 158.73x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 2 | 5.60x |
| Collessie | 1 | 222.22x |
| Dunfermline | 1 | 16.56x |
| Marykirk | 1 | 303.03x |
| Moffat | 1 | 149.25x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.82x |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gourlie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Frederick | 1 |
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 Gourlie households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cashier To Scientific Institution | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Gourlie surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Gourlie a modern rank of #37,599.
A Scottish surname derived from the French word "gourlie" meaning "cuff" or "wristband."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gourlie bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.