Surname Gournay - Meaning and Origin
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Gournay: What does the surname Gournay mean?
The last name Gournay is a French last name, from Norman origin. It is derived from the Old French word "gornay," meaning "of Gournay," which was a settlement located in France’s Mayenne department that is believed to have been founded by Vikings.
The first Gournay-related records can be traced back to the year 1345, when one Edward Parked was referred to as "Edward Gournay de Seinlynery." The name appears numerous times throughout the centuries, in wars, court proceedings, and doctrinal documents.
Throughout the years, there have been many variants of the Gournay surname. Some of the most commonly used variations are Gournais, Gournard, Gourmay, Gurnais, Gurnay, Gournais, Gurnham, Gurniere, and Gournette.
Today, the Gournay name is found all over the world, with the highest concentrations in the United States, France, and other French-speaking areas. It is likely that people with the Gournay surname may be related, due to the similarities of its regional origins.
In spite of this, each branch of the Gournay family has likely gone its separate ways, as time passes and countries move farther apart. They may come from the same place, but their many paths will lead them to many different places.
Order DNA origin analysisGournay: Where does the name Gournay come from?
Gournay is a relatively rare surname found primarily in France. Today, the majority of people bearing the Gournay surname live in and around the regions of Normandy, Picardy, and Aunis. There are some people bearing the name in Poitou-Charentes in western France, but these instances are much less common.
Outside of France, the name is scarce, but not altogether absent. There are some pockets of Gournays in the United States, mostly concentrated in southern California. These families are believed to have descended from 19th-century French immigrants that settled there. Similarly, there are also some Gournays in other parts of North America, such as Canada and Mexico. In Europe, namesakes can be found in countries such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Although Gournay may not be widespread everywhere, it is a name of French ancestry that carries with it a long and proud history. This can be seen by its association with renowned medieval French noble families and its close ties with French towns and villages. Despite its relative rarity, those who bear the Gournay name can still take pride in their heritage.
Variations of the surname Gournay
The surname Gournay is derived from the French place name Gournay-en-Bray. It likely originated from the Old French word 'gornail' meaning a triangular plot of land, or from the Frankish word 'gorn' meaning uprooted land. Variants and spellings of the surname Gournay include Gournais, Gournet, Gournices, Gournaz, Gournette, Gournier, Gournix, Gournoc, Gourny, Gurnay, Gurney, and Gurnier.
Gournay-en-Bray is a commune located in the Seine-Maritime department of France in the Normandy region. The Gournay family is said to have begun in the late 11th and early 12th centuries when they settled in the region of Normandy in France. This family was then found to have been in possession of Gournay-en-Bray in 1150. The Gournay coat of arms shows a silver triangle on a field of red with three red martlets (a type of small bird often portrayed in heraldry). It is said to be a representation of the triangular piece of land the family originally owned.
The spelling and pronunciation of the name evolved over the centuries, leading to the variants now in use. It began to be used as a surname in late medieval times, and since then it has spread throughout Europe and other parts of the world.
Gournay is also known to have been used as a descriptive nickname for someone believed to have especially fine feathers or fur, derived from the French term 'gouverner'. In this case, the surname Gouverner would be a surname variant to Gournay. Another variant of Gournay that has arisen independently is Gorenay, which is probably a corruption of Gournay, usually found in England, many of which are direct descendants of a family who migrated from Normandy in the 1490s.
Famous people with the name Gournay
- Sean Gournay: Sean Gournay is an American actor and producer. He is most known for his roles in Santa Clarita Diet, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Mind your business, and Hart of Dixie.
- Richard Gournay: Richard Gournay is an English musician, producer, and television music director. He is best known as the keyboardist for the English alternative rock band, Coldplay.
- Pierre Gournay: Pierre Gournay is a French actor who has appeared in films such as The Height of the Storm and There is Nothing Wrong with Us.
- Philippe Gournay: Philippe Gournay is a French architect. He is best known for his work in historical preservation and modern industrial architecture.
- Valérie Gournay: Valérie Gournay is a French sportswoman and adventurer. She is best known for her ultra-endurance feats, such as a 97-day hike through the French Pyrenees, and a 48-day solo kayak from England to Spain.