NameCensus.

UK surname

Guthrie

From a place name meaning "windy place" in Scottish Gaelic, or "gutter" in Middle English.

In the 1881 census there were 3,777 people recorded with the Guthrie surname, ranking it #1,212 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,297, ranked #1,581, down from #1,212 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Gateshead and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirriemuir, Milton East and St Monans and Pittenweem.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Guthrie is 4,442 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.8%.

1881 census count

3,777

Ranked #1,212

Modern count

4,297

2016, ranked #1,581

Peak year

2010

4,442 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Guthrie had 3,777 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,212 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,297 in 2016, ranked #1,581.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,382 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Guthrie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Guthrie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Guthrie 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 2,886 #1,008
1861 historical 2,879 #1,008
1881 historical 3,777 #1,212
1891 historical 4,085 #1,178
1901 historical 4,382 #1,298
1911 historical 1,490 #3,239
1997 modern 4,145 #1,559
1998 modern 4,302 #1,562
1999 modern 4,332 #1,562
2000 modern 4,308 #1,560
2001 modern 4,209 #1,557
2002 modern 4,320 #1,557
2003 modern 4,238 #1,557
2004 modern 4,264 #1,556
2005 modern 4,208 #1,550
2006 modern 4,178 #1,563
2007 modern 4,267 #1,547
2008 modern 4,304 #1,542
2009 modern 4,385 #1,552
2010 modern 4,442 #1,563
2011 modern 4,320 #1,585
2012 modern 4,153 #1,616
2013 modern 4,232 #1,615
2014 modern 4,313 #1,598
2015 modern 4,289 #1,589
2016 modern 4,297 #1,581

Geography

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Where Guthries are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Gateshead, London parishes, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirriemuir, Milton East, St Monans and Pittenweem, Northumberland and Forfar Central. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Gateshead Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirriemuir Angus
2 Milton East Glasgow City
3 St Monans and Pittenweem Fife
4 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
5 Forfar Central Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Guthrie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Guthrie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Guthrie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Guthrie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Guthrie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Guthrie is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Guthrie falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Guthrie 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 Guthrie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Guthrie

The surname Guthrie originated from the Scottish Borders region and has its roots in an Old English word, "gūð", meaning battle or war, and "rīc", meaning rich or powerful. This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive one, referring to a person who was skilled or successful in battle.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Guthrie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it appears as "Guthry" and "Guthery". This historical document contains the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 14th century, the Guthrie family established themselves as landowners in the county of Angus, Scotland. One notable figure from this time was Sir David Guthrie (c. 1330-1400), who served as Lord High Treasurer of Scotland under King Robert III.

The name Guthrie is also associated with the parish of Guthrie in Angus, which likely derived its name from the Guthrie family who held lands in the area. This connection to a specific place further solidified the surname's use and significance.

During the 16th century, the Guthrie family continued to play a prominent role in Scottish history. James Guthrie (1612-1661) was a Scottish Presbyterian minister and one of the most influential religious leaders of the Covenanting movement. He was executed for his opposition to the religious policies of King Charles II.

Another notable figure was John Guthrie (1659-1730), a Scottish philosopher and writer who authored several works on natural philosophy and ethics, including "A Treatise on the Circle and the Hyperbolic Curves" and "A System of Moral Philosophy".

In the literary world, Thomas Anstey Guthrie (1856-1934) was a British novelist and playwright, best known for his humorous novels such as "Vice Versa" and "The Tinted Venus".

The surname Guthrie has also been carried by individuals in other fields, such as Woody Guthrie (1912-1967), an American folk singer and songwriter who had a significant influence on the American folk music revival of the 1960s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Guthrie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Guthrie 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. Lanarkshire leads with 559 Guthries recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.70x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 559 4.70x
Ayrshire 394 14.30x
Angus 317 9.29x
Northumberland 269 4.91x
Midlothian 243 4.93x
Durham 219 2.00x
Middlesex 181 0.49x
Lancashire 141 0.32x
Renfrewshire 141 4.94x
Perthshire 130 7.87x
Fife 128 5.87x
Aberdeenshire 123 3.61x
Orkney 99 24.44x
Yorkshire 98 0.27x
Berwickshire 76 17.05x
Surrey 64 0.36x
Banffshire 49 6.42x
Roxburghshire 49 7.35x
Stirlingshire 48 3.54x
Cheshire 45 0.55x
Dunbartonshire 35 3.54x
Morayshire 32 5.59x
Wigtownshire 31 6.34x
Kent 28 0.22x
Shetland 25 6.65x
Selkirkshire 21 6.31x
West Lothian 21 3.79x
Kincardineshire 18 4.02x
Cumberland 17 0.54x
Kirkcudbrightshire 15 2.81x
Staffordshire 15 0.12x
Argyllshire 12 1.17x
Buteshire 12 5.38x
Gloucestershire 10 0.14x
Inverness-shire 9 0.82x
Glamorgan 8 0.12x
Essex 7 0.10x
Hampshire 7 0.09x
East Lothian 6 1.23x
Kinross-shire 6 6.45x
Cardiganshire 5 0.56x
Nairnshire 5 4.45x
Sussex 5 0.08x
Worcestershire 5 0.10x
Clackmannanshire 4 1.32x
Lincolnshire 4 0.07x
Norfolk 4 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.08x
Royal Navy 4 0.91x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.41x
Somerset 3 0.05x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.09x
Denbighshire 2 0.14x
Devon 2 0.03x
Dorset 2 0.08x
Wiltshire 2 0.06x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.04x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.06x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.12x
Herefordshire 1 0.07x
Monmouthshire 1 0.04x
Ross-shire 1 0.10x
Shropshire 1 0.03x
Sutherland 1 0.35x
Warwickshire 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. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 202 Guthries recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.86x.

Place Total Index
Govan 202 6.86x
Barony 144 4.78x
Glasgow 110 5.20x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 104 5.24x
Dundee 75 5.89x
Gateshead 57 6.95x
Dundonald 37 36.42x
Monkton Prestwick 35 130.50x
Ardrossan 32 33.55x
Coldstream 31 96.09x
Longbenton 31 13.36x
North Leith 31 13.58x
Forfar 30 16.24x
Montrose 30 14.51x
Aberdeen Old Machar 29 4.07x
Islington London 29 0.81x
Kilmarnock 29 8.84x
Leeds 29 1.41x
Riccarton 28 67.37x
Lady 27 225.00x
Liff Benvie 27 5.21x
St Monance 27 103.77x
East Greenock 26 9.65x
Westoe 25 4.03x
Dalmellington 24 29.62x
Darlington 24 5.68x
South Leith 24 4.32x
Stranton 23 6.24x
Toxteth Park 23 1.55x
South Ronaldshay 22 52.49x
Brechin 21 15.67x
Largo 21 74.20x
St Vigeans 21 11.41x
Westgate 21 6.19x
Arbroath 20 17.69x
Bathgate 20 16.62x
Chelsea London 20 1.80x
Cowpen 20 15.86x
Everton 20 1.44x
Kilmaurs 20 42.66x
Kirkwall St Ola 20 32.97x
Newhills 20 28.65x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 19 2.98x
Perth Middle Church 19 30.58x
Alyth 18 40.48x
Beath 18 26.14x
Dailly 18 64.06x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 18 3.79x
Tynemouth 18 6.14x
Ayr 17 13.07x
Cadder 17 19.33x
Elswick 17 3.89x
Farnworth 17 6.50x
Largs 17 26.19x
Maybole 17 20.26x
Riccarton Hurlford 17 35.17x
Stayley 17 18.30x
Stirling 17 9.93x
West Greenock 17 3.32x
Dunblane 16 40.47x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 16 4.89x
Perth East Church 16 10.27x
Abbey 15 3.45x
Auchterarder 15 32.52x
Doncaster 15 5.63x
Edinburgh St Marys 15 15.64x
Fraserburgh 15 15.63x
Kelso 15 22.57x
Liberton 15 19.70x
Yell South 15 163.93x
Bothwell 14 4.34x
Hawick 14 9.38x
Paisley High Church 14 6.16x
St George Hanover Square 14 2.16x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 1.06x
Urquhart 14 51.79x
Carluke 13 12.02x
Cross Burness N 13 61.47x
Kirkintilloch 13 9.67x
Liverpool 13 0.49x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 87
James 63
William 47
George 45
Robert 43
Thomas 43
Charles 20
David 17
Alexander 13
Andrew 11
Harry 7
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Henry 6
Peter 6
Walter 6
Herbert 5
Joseph 5
Nicholas 5
Ralph 5
Wm. 5
Adam 4
Alfred 4
Frederick 4
Michael 4
Patrick 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Thos. 4
Frank 3
Lewis 3
Robt. 3
Aaron 2
Alex 2
Archibald 2
Donald 2
Edmond 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Lambert 2
Leonard 2
Malcolm 2
Matthew 2
Michial 2
Nathan 2
Wilfred 2
Willie 2
Benjamin 1
Fred. 1

FAQ

Guthrie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Guthrie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,777 people were recorded with the Guthrie surname. That placed it at #1,212 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Guthrie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,297 in 2016. That gives Guthrie a modern rank of #1,581.

What does the Guthrie surname mean?

From a place name meaning "windy place" in Scottish Gaelic, or "gutter" in Middle English.

What does the Guthrie map show?

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