UK surname
A habitational surname derived from the Bailiwick of Guernsey, an island in the English Channel.
In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Gurnsey surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 32, ranked #35,887, down from #27,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St James and St Paul and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gurnsey is 124 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.4%.
1881 census count
46
Ranked #27,188
Modern count
32
2016, ranked #35,887
Peak year
1891
124 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gurnsey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gurnsey surname density by area, 1891 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 | 19 | #29,904 |
| 1861 | historical | 60 | #26,313 |
| 1881 | historical | 46 | #27,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 124 | #20,818 |
| 1901 | historical | 68 | #26,598 |
| 1911 | historical | 91 | #23,684 |
| 1997 | modern | 40 | #33,666 |
| 1998 | modern | 38 | #34,066 |
| 1999 | modern | 41 | #33,866 |
| 2000 | modern | 39 | #34,066 |
| 2001 | modern | 36 | #34,171 |
| 2002 | modern | 37 | #34,390 |
| 2003 | modern | 33 | #34,773 |
| 2004 | modern | 29 | #35,270 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 30 | #35,736 |
| 2009 | modern | 30 | #35,871 |
| 2010 | modern | 32 | #35,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 32 | #35,831 |
| 2012 | modern | 31 | #35,876 |
| 2013 | modern | 32 | #35,862 |
| 2014 | modern | 30 | #36,005 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 32 | #35,887 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St James and St Paul, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Portsmouth, Portsea. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | St James and St Paul | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gurnsey 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 Gurnsey, 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 Gurnsey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gurnsey 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, Gurnsey 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 Gurnsey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gurnsey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gurnsey originated in England, specifically in the county of Suffolk during the late medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "grindan," meaning to grind, and "ey," meaning an island or a meadow by the water, suggesting that the name may have referred to a miller's dwelling or a settlement near a mill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk, dated 1327, which mention a John de Gurnsey. This early spelling variation, "de Gurnsey," indicates that the name may have initially been associated with a particular location or manor.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records as "Gurnay," "Gurney," and "Gurnye," reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a Reginald de Gurnay, while the Feet of Fines for Norfolk in 1345 record a John Gurnay.
The surname Gurnsey is also linked to the place name Gurnard, a village in the Isle of Wight, which was formerly known as "Grenard" or "Gurnard." This connection suggests that some individuals bearing the surname may have originated from or held lands in this area.
Notable individuals with the surname Gurnsey include:
1. Sir Nicholas Gurnsey (1578-1656), an English politician and landowner who served as the High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1624. 2. Thomas Gurnsey (1604-1675), a Puritan minister and one of the founders of the town of Haverhill, Massachusetts. 3. John Gurnsey (1688-1743), an English clergyman and author who wrote "The Christian Covenant" and other works. 4. John Gurnsey (1758-1827), an English naval officer and explorer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later surveyed the Australian coast. 5. William Gurnsey (1777-1848), an English architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London, including the Tivoli Theatre.
Throughout its history, the surname Gurnsey has been associated with various locations, occupations, and individuals, reflecting the rich tapestry of English heritage and the enduring legacy of this distinctive name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gurnsey 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. Kent leads with 15 Gurnseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 15 | 9.80x |
| Gloucestershire | 12 | 13.63x |
| Wiltshire | 8 | 20.16x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.75x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.83x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.67x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St James St Paul in Gloucestershire leads with 8 Gurnseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 273.04x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol St James St Paul | 8 | 273.04x |
| Westbury | 8 | 860.22x |
| Chatham | 7 | 166.27x |
| Gillingham | 7 | 221.52x |
| Manchester | 4 | 16.70x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 3 | 36.19x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 10.47x |
| Poplar London | 3 | 35.42x |
| Croydon | 1 | 8.24x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 1 | 62.11x |
| Stapleton | 1 | 59.88x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gurnsey 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 Gurnsey 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 Gurnsey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Tin Plate Worker | 2 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Copper Smith | 1 |
| Cotton Spinner | 1 |
| Draper (Employing 1 Assistant) | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Genl Serv | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Grocer Master | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Mechanic (Art) | 1 |
| Schoolmistress | 1 |
| Staymaker | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Gurnsey surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 32 in 2016. That gives Gurnsey a modern rank of #35,887.
A habitational surname derived from the Bailiwick of Guernsey, an island in the English Channel.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gurnsey 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.