NameCensus.

UK surname

Gurr

A surname derived from a variant spelling of the Scottish word "corr" meaning a marsh or fen.

In the 1881 census there were 1,025 people recorded with the Gurr surname, ranking it #3,827 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,070, ranked #5,468, down from #3,827 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Isfield and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tunbridge Wells, Reigate and Banstead and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gurr is 1,513 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.4%.

1881 census count

1,025

Ranked #3,827

Modern count

1,070

2016, ranked #5,468

Peak year

1911

1,513 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gurr had 1,025 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,827 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,070 in 2016, ranked #5,468.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,513 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gurr surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gurr surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gurr 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 613 #4,211
1861 historical 518 #5,049
1881 historical 1,025 #3,827
1891 historical 1,160 #3,681
1901 historical 1,371 #3,666
1911 historical 1,513 #3,195
1997 modern 1,217 #4,655
1998 modern 1,246 #4,736
1999 modern 1,260 #4,728
2000 modern 1,194 #4,929
2001 modern 1,172 #4,918
2002 modern 1,182 #4,960
2003 modern 1,155 #4,966
2004 modern 1,148 #5,006
2005 modern 1,102 #5,118
2006 modern 1,082 #5,207
2007 modern 1,077 #5,274
2008 modern 1,076 #5,312
2009 modern 1,115 #5,259
2010 modern 1,124 #5,336
2011 modern 1,092 #5,413
2012 modern 1,048 #5,504
2013 modern 1,069 #5,515
2014 modern 1,083 #5,478
2015 modern 1,076 #5,447
2016 modern 1,070 #5,468

Geography

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Where Gurrs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Isfield, Brighton, Smarden and Bromley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tunbridge Wells, Reigate and Banstead, Wealden and Mid Devon. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Isfield Sussex
3 Brighton Sussex
4 Smarden Kent
5 Bromley Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tunbridge Wells 013 Tunbridge Wells
2 Reigate and Banstead 014 Reigate and Banstead
3 Wealden 018 Wealden
4 Wealden 014 Wealden
5 Mid Devon 010 Mid Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gurr

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gurr

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gurr, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Gurr surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gurr household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Gurr is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gurr is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gurr falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gurr is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gurr, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gurr

The surname Gurr is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "gurra," which referred to a young person or a youth. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who appeared youthful or childlike in appearance or demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gurr can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1230, where a person named William Gurr is mentioned. This provides evidence that the name was in use as a surname by the 13th century, at least in certain regions of England.

The Gurr surname is also closely tied to the village of Gurr, located in the county of Somerset. This place name likely originated from the Old English word "gurra" as well, and it is possible that the surname was adopted by families residing in or near this village during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the Gurr surname appeared in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1543, which listed a John Gurr as a taxpayer. This suggests that the Gurr family had established itself across different parts of England by this time.

One notable individual with the Gurr surname was John Gurr (1562-1637), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the rector of Broughton Gifford in Wiltshire. Another historical figure was William Gurr (1656-1723), a English composer and organist who served as the Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey.

In the 18th century, the Gurr surname was found in various parish records and registers across England, including baptisms, marriages, and burials. This suggests that the name had become well-established and dispersed throughout the country by this point.

Other individuals with the Gurr surname include Edward Gurr (1777-1850), an English artist and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural prints, and John Gurr (1815-1879), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Garrick Theatre.

While the Gurr surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, likely due to immigration patterns in more recent centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gurr families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gurr 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. Kent leads with 496 Gurrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.52x.

County Total Index
Kent 496 14.52x
Sussex 265 15.70x
Middlesex 144 1.44x
Surrey 59 1.21x
Leicestershire 11 0.99x
Suffolk 11 0.90x
Northumberland 10 0.67x
Durham 8 0.27x
Essex 6 0.30x
Somerset 5 0.31x
Hampshire 4 0.20x
Wiltshire 3 0.34x
Royal Navy 2 1.68x
Dorset 1 0.15x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cranbrook in Kent leads with 43 Gurrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 297.37x.

Place Total Index
Cranbrook 43 297.37x
Eastbourne 42 54.09x
Bromley 32 61.48x
Smarden 31 794.87x
Brighton 24 7.05x
Herstmonceaux 24 473.37x
Camberwell 21 3.28x
Chatham 19 20.23x
Sutton Valence 18 463.92x
Kensington London 17 3.06x
Maidstone 17 16.71x
Penshurst 17 296.17x
Staplehurst 17 303.03x
Deptford St Paul 16 6.07x
Shoreditch London 16 3.69x
St Pancras London 16 1.99x
Isfield 15 967.74x
Paddington London 15 4.08x
St Luke London 14 8.72x
Frindsbury 13 101.01x
Hothfield 13 1171.17x
Tonbridge 13 10.56x
Mile End Old Town London 12 5.63x
Folkestone 11 16.61x
Leicester St Margaret 11 4.07x
Wrotham 11 97.26x
Bexley 10 33.12x
East Grinstead 10 41.86x
Ipswich St Peter 10 60.94x
Newhaven 10 72.94x
Warbleton 10 198.81x
Canterbury St Paul 9 146.82x
Frittenden 9 282.13x
Snodland 9 92.98x
Tynemouth 9 11.29x
Chelsea London 8 2.65x
Deal 8 27.46x
East Sutton 8 601.50x
Ewhurst 8 213.33x
Faversham 8 24.57x
Hellingly 8 141.59x
Heston 8 24.07x
Lewes St Ann 8 139.13x
Lydd 8 109.44x
Ringmer 8 168.07x
Streatham 8 10.77x
Borden 7 161.66x
Charlton 7 30.86x
Dunkirk 7 275.59x
Framfield 7 133.84x
Limehouse London 7 6.37x
Preston Next Faversham 7 87.17x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 3.48x
Sutton At Hone 7 98.87x
Ashford 6 18.04x
Bodiam 6 540.54x
Chislet 6 155.44x
East Peckham 6 84.63x
Hammersmith London 6 2.43x
Hastings St Mary In The 6 16.67x
Northfleet 6 19.95x
South Malling 6 240.00x
Westoe 6 3.55x
Whitstable 6 35.82x
Hastings St Mary 5 11.91x
Hoath 5 431.03x
Lewisham 5 2.75x
Little Horsted 5 485.44x
Mereworth 5 181.82x
Newington 5 1.35x
Snargate 5 980.39x
West Ham 5 1.15x
Wittersham 5 163.93x
Chiddingly 4 131.58x
Hampstead London 4 2.57x
Lamberhurstsussex 4 181.82x
Lambeth 4 0.46x
Lewes St John Southover 4 35.30x
Sutton 4 11.34x
West Peckham 4 253.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 55
Elizabeth 33
Alice 27
Sarah 24
Ellen 23
Emily 21
Jane 19
Emma 17
Eliza 16
Caroline 13
Martha 13
Harriet 12
Ann 11
Edith 11
Fanny 11
Annie 10
Louisa 9
Susan 9
Florence 8
Harriett 7
Sophia 7
Frances 6
Rose 6
Charlotte 5
Kate 5
Minnie 5
Catherine 4
Esther 4
Francis 4
Isabella 4
Lucy 4
Margaret 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Flora 3
Maria 3
Rebecca 3
Rosa 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Clara 2
Elzbth. 2
Fany 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Lilly 2
Matilda 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 60
John 50
George 42
Henry 32
Thomas 32
Alfred 31
Charles 31
James 31
Albert 17
Frederick 16
Harry 11
Richard 11
Edward 10
Robert 9
Arthur 8
David 8
Joseph 8
Herbert 6
Stephen 6
Walter 6
Edwin 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 4
Frank 4
Jesse 4
Samuel 4
Amos 3
Alexander 2
Ceaser 2
Chas. 2
Ebenezer 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Percy 2
Willm. 2
Daniel 1
Donald 1
Edwn. 1
Eliza 1
Ephrian 1
Frederic 1
Jabez 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Luthur 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Moses 1
Wm.Tho. 1

FAQ

Gurr surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gurr surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,025 people were recorded with the Gurr surname. That placed it at #3,827 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gurr surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,070 in 2016. That gives Gurr a modern rank of #5,468.

What does the Gurr surname mean?

A surname derived from a variant spelling of the Scottish word "corr" meaning a marsh or fen.

What does the Gurr map show?

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