UK surname
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "red clearing" or "triangular clearing."
In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Gurley surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 67, ranked #33,884, down from #23,950 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Whitnash, Paddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gurley is 102 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.5%.
1881 census count
68
Ranked #23,950
Modern count
67
2016, ranked #33,884
Peak year
1911
102 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gurley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gurley surname density by area, 1911 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 | 51 | #24,096 |
| 1861 | historical | 74 | #24,370 |
| 1881 | historical | 68 | #23,950 |
| 1891 | historical | 92 | #25,109 |
| 1901 | historical | 101 | #22,726 |
| 1911 | historical | 102 | #22,465 |
| 1997 | modern | 72 | #30,415 |
| 1998 | modern | 76 | #30,386 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 68 | #31,380 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 66 | #32,079 |
| 2005 | modern | 66 | #32,303 |
| 2006 | modern | 67 | #32,532 |
| 2007 | modern | 63 | #33,243 |
| 2008 | modern | 66 | #33,217 |
| 2009 | modern | 69 | #33,257 |
| 2010 | modern | 72 | #33,324 |
| 2011 | modern | 66 | #33,768 |
| 2012 | modern | 68 | #33,763 |
| 2013 | modern | 68 | #33,877 |
| 2014 | modern | 68 | #33,898 |
| 2015 | modern | 68 | #33,854 |
| 2016 | modern | 67 | #33,884 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Whitnash, Paddington, London parishes, Packwood and Lambeth. 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 | Whitnash | Warwickshire |
| 2 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Packwood | Warwickshire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gurley 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 Gurley, 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 Gurley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gurley 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, Gurley 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 Gurley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gurley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gurley is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "gur" and "leah," which together mean "the muddy clearing." This suggests that the name may have originated as a place name referring to a settlement or piece of land located in a swampy or marshy area.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Gurley appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where it is listed as "John de Gorlay." This spelling variation likely arose from the dialect spoken in the region where the name first emerged.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms such as "Gurle," "Gyrle," and "Gurlay" in records from counties like Wiltshire, Somerset, and Gloucestershire. These regional variations reflect the different pronunciations and spellings used by scribes at the time.
The Gurley surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Gurley in Staffordshire and Gurleyhill in Yorkshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the surname or vice versa.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Gurley was John Gurley (c. 1370 - 1438), a prominent English landowner and member of Parliament for Wiltshire during the reign of Henry VI.
Other historical figures bearing the Gurley name include:
1. Ralph Gurley (1591 - 1670), an English Puritan minister and one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 2. John Gurley (1688 - 1741), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Norwich. 3. William Gurley (1768 - 1843), an American surveyor and cartographer known for his work mapping the American West. 4. Phineas D. Gurley (1816 - 1868), an American minister who served as the chaplain of the United States House of Representatives during the American Civil War. 5. Josiah Gurley (1768 - 1834), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana.
While the Gurley surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration to the United States and other English-speaking countries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gurley 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. Warwickshire leads with 33 Gurleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.44x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 33 | 19.44x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.34x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.74x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.88x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 1.32x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.99x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.67x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.75x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.72x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.00x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 12.47x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.88x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 11 Gurleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.53x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aston | 11 | 23.53x |
| Packwood | 8 | 11428.57x |
| Birmingham | 7 | 12.37x |
| Bermondsey | 6 | 29.94x |
| Everton | 6 | 23.57x |
| Leamington Priors | 4 | 95.69x |
| Enfield | 3 | 67.87x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 5.11x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 12.12x |
| Loxley | 2 | 2857.14x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 20.04x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 8.45x |
| Brighton | 1 | 4.37x |
| Dundonald | 1 | 53.76x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 9.54x |
| Newton Hall | 1 | 3333.33x |
| South Shoebury | 1 | 188.68x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 8.43x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 4.15x |
| Stone | 1 | 34.36x |
| Tenbury | 1 | 208.33x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 3.70x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 14.45x |
| Whitnash | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Whittington | 1 | 217.39x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gurley 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 Gurley 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 Gurley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Baker | 3 |
| A B Seaman | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Brass Filer | 1 |
| Brewer | 1 |
| Brewers Wife | 1 |
| Brick Layers Labourer | 1 |
| Butler | 1 |
| Butler Wife | 1 |
| Carrier | 1 |
| Checking Excise Officer Clerk (C S) | 1 |
| Clerk Corn Merchant | 1 |
| Commercial Traveller (Coals) | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Eating House Owner | 1 |
| Farm Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Footman | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Grder | 1 |
| Inn Servant | 1 |
| Market Gardener | 1 |
| Metal Spinner | 1 |
| Milk Seller | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nurse (S/M) | 1 |
| Parlourmaid | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Private | 1 |
| Private 2 Stafford Mil | 1 |
| Teacher School | 1 |
| Tobacconist | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Gurley surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 67 in 2016. That gives Gurley a modern rank of #33,884.
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "red clearing" or "triangular clearing."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gurley 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.