UK surname
A variant spelling of the common Irish surname Guiry, derived from the Gaelic Ó Giobhair meaning "descendent of Iobhar".
In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Guire surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #27,447 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Durham St Oswald and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Guire is 180 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.7%.
1881 census count
44
Ranked #27,447
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1861
180 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Guire surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Guire 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 | 75 | #20,268 |
| 1861 | historical | 180 | #13,057 |
| 1881 | historical | 44 | #27,447 |
| 1891 | historical | 95 | #24,694 |
| 1901 | historical | 46 | #29,047 |
| 1911 | historical | 30 | #30,073 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Durham St Oswald, Manchester, Bristol City: St Paul and Spetchley. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Durham St Oswald | Durham |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Bristol City: St Paul | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | Spetchley | Worcestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Guire 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 Guire, 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 Guire surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Guire 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, Guire 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 Guire is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Guire, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GUIRE is believed to have originated in Ireland, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. One potential derivation is from the Gaelic word "giorra," which means "short" or "little." This could suggest that the name was initially a descriptive nickname given to someone of small stature.
Another theory links GUIRE to the Irish place name "Guaire" or "Gower," which is derived from the Old Irish word "gabhar," meaning "goat." It's possible that the name was initially associated with someone who lived near a place where goats were raised or someone who worked with these animals.
In some early records, the surname appears with variations in spelling, such as Guyre, Guyere, and Guyr, reflecting the fluidity of name transcription in those times. One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century.
One notable figure bearing the GUIRE name was Sir Richard Guyre (1560-1628), an English soldier and politician who served as Governor of Guernsey during the reign of King James I. Another prominent individual was John Guire (1725-1799), an Irish-born merchant and politician who represented Monaghan in the Irish House of Commons.
In the literary realm, the name is associated with Kathleen Guire (1904-1980), an American author and illustrator known for her children's books, including "The Little Wooden Horse" and "The Wonderful Egg." Additionally, John Guire (1939-1958) was an American soldier who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War.
Another figure of note was Edward Guire (1830-1905), an Irish-born prelate who served as the second Bishop of Natchez, Mississippi, from 1876 until his death. His tenure was marked by efforts to rebuild the diocese after the devastation of the Civil War.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the surname GUIRE, reflecting its Irish origins and its presence across various fields and regions over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Guire 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. Durham leads with 10 Guires recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.12x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 10 | 11.12x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.67x |
| Kent | 5 | 4.85x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.66x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 7.03x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 2.62x |
| Angus | 1 | 3.57x |
| Argyllshire | 1 | 11.88x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 11.16x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 2.07x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Esh in Durham leads with 6 Guires recorded in 1881 and an index of 923.08x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Esh | 6 | 923.08x |
| Widnes | 4 | 154.44x |
| Brandon Byshottles | 3 | 265.49x |
| Deptford St Paul | 3 | 37.69x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 7.87x |
| Northampton St Sepulchre | 2 | 137.93x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 17.99x |
| Campbeltown | 1 | 98.04x |
| Dundee | 1 | 9.56x |
| Eccleston In Prescot | 1 | 55.56x |
| Gateshead | 1 | 14.86x |
| Goudhurst | 1 | 344.83x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 32.57x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 18.18x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 4.59x |
| St Mary | 1 | 1000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Guire surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Guire surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Guire households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| ((Scholar)) | 1 |
| Brass Worker | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Coke Drawer | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| No Ocupation | 1 |
| Scholar Cripple | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Guire surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Guire a modern rank of #37,385.
A variant spelling of the common Irish surname Guiry, derived from the Gaelic Ó Giobhair meaning "descendent of Iobhar".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Guire 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.