NameCensus.

UK surname

Gurry

A surname possibly derived from the Irish surname Ó Gairbhe meaning "rough" or "rugged".

In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Gurry surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 101, ranked #30,929, down from #20,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, London parishes and St Ives. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, Tendring and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gurry is 167 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.2%.

1881 census count

90

Ranked #20,965

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

1911

167 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gurry had 90 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 167 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gurry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gurry surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gurry 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 75 #20,268
1861 historical 66 #25,487
1881 historical 90 #20,965
1891 historical 115 #21,878
1901 historical 147 #18,270
1911 historical 167 #16,692
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 126 #24,094
1999 modern 129 #23,907
2000 modern 129 #23,901
2001 modern 117 #24,974
2002 modern 114 #25,886
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 112 #26,159
2005 modern 112 #26,114
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 113 #28,016
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 113 #28,779
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Gurrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, London parishes, St Ives, Eaton Socon with Wyboston and Sutton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntingdonshire, Tendring, Enfield and Havering. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Ives Huntingdonshire
4 Eaton Socon with Wyboston Huntingdonshire
5 Sutton Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 007 Huntingdonshire
2 Huntingdonshire 011 Huntingdonshire
3 Tendring 014 Tendring
4 Enfield 019 Enfield
5 Havering 021 Havering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gurry

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gurry

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gurry, 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 Gurry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gurry 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gurry is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gurry is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gurry falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gurry is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gurry

The surname Gurry is of English origin, with roots dating back to the early medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gyrra," which referred to a type of triangular-shaped field or piece of land. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near or worked on such a triangular plot.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the year 1195, where a person named Robert Gurry is mentioned. This historical document provides evidence that the surname was already in use by the late 12th century in certain parts of England.

The Gurry surname also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1327, indicating the presence of individuals bearing this name in that region during the 14th century. In these records, the spelling variations "Gurri" and "Gury" can be found, reflecting the gradual evolution of the name's orthography over time.

In the 15th century, a notable figure with the Gurry surname was John Gurry, a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Oxfordshire. He was born around 1425 and is mentioned in various legal documents and property records from that period.

Another significant individual was Sir William Gurry, who lived in the late 16th century and was a respected military commander during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a crucial role in the English campaigns against the Spanish Armada and was knighted for his bravery and service to the crown.

In the 17th century, the name Gurry can be found in the parish records of several villages in Hampshire, suggesting a strong presence of this surname in that county during that time period. One notable example is Thomas Gurry, a prosperous landowner and farmer who lived in the village of Romsey from 1620 to 1688.

Moving into the 18th century, a prominent figure with the Gurry surname was Samuel Gurry, a renowned scholar and theologian who was born in 1715 in Gloucestershire. He authored several influential works on religious topics and held prestigious academic positions at Oxford University until his death in 1786.

Throughout the 19th century, the Gurry surname continued to be present in various parts of England, with families bearing this name residing in counties such as Dorset, Somerset, and Yorkshire. One notable individual from this period was Elizabeth Gurry, a celebrated author and poet who was born in 1845 in Cornwall and published several well-received works during her lifetime.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gurry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gurry 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. Middlesex leads with 25 Gurrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.85x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 25 2.85x
Huntingdonshire 18 103.27x
Cambridgeshire 12 21.58x
Kent 9 3.00x
Lancashire 9 0.86x
Surrey 7 1.64x
Bedfordshire 3 6.60x
Cheshire 3 1.55x
Essex 2 1.15x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.85x
Wiltshire 1 1.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Woodhurst in Huntingdonshire leads with 15 Gurrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15000.00x.

Place Total Index
Woodhurst 15 15000.00x
Dover St Mary Virgin 9 310.34x
Kensington London 8 16.39x
Sutton 8 1739.13x
Paddington London 7 21.69x
Camberwell 4 7.13x
Caxton 4 2352.94x
Heaton Norris 4 67.45x
Limehouse London 4 41.49x
Eaton Socon 3 422.54x
Hyde 3 52.45x
Acton 2 38.84x
Cliviger 2 338.98x
Islington London 2 2.35x
Kingston On Thames 2 19.46x
Liverpool 2 3.16x
West Ham 2 5.23x
Basford 1 18.35x
Bishopstone 1 270.27x
Godmanchester 1 151.52x
Newington 1 3.08x
Oldham 1 2.97x
St Ives 1 111.11x
St Martin In Fields 1 19.01x
St Neots 1 105.26x
Westminster St James 1 11.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 4
Mary 4
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Emily 3
Sarah 3
Catherine 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Agnes 1
E. 1
Ellun 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
May 1
Nellie 1
Phoebe 1
Rosa 1
Rosina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Arthur 5
Charles 3
Patrick 3
Thomas 3
Edward 2
George 2
James 2
John 2
Mark 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Bertram 1
Chas.William 1
Ebenezer 1
Emmanuel 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Henery 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Jesse 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Stephen 1
Victor 1

FAQ

Gurry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gurry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Gurry surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gurry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Gurry a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Gurry surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Irish surname Ó Gairbhe meaning "rough" or "rugged".

What does the Gurry map show?

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