Surname Guernay - Meaning and Origin
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Guernay: What does the surname Guernay mean?
The surname Guernay likely originated as a topographic name for someone “from Guernay,” a place name in France. The exact origin of the name is unknown and likely derives from the Old French word warrener, which means “warren keeper.”
This is a fairly rare name and there is only one family with the surname living in the United States, found in California. In France, there are about 600 bearers of the name remaining, with the largest populations found in Nord-Pas de Calais, Picardie, and Basse-Normandie regions.
The history of the Guernays is believed to trace back to the Middle Ages, when it could have been first adopted as a surname for a first name. It’s possible that the name could have related to a nickname of an ancestor, with “guernay” meaning someone with darker eyes or a dark complexion.
The surname may have derived from a habitat similar to a warren, which was a defensive dwelling dug into a hillside. Those who lived in these dwellings could have taken the surname of “Guernay” to represent their place of residence.
This surname is a link to the past, giving us a glimpse into the lives of the people who first took the name at some point centuries ago. While the exact meaning of the name has been lost over time, the spirit of the people bearing it carries on within the family today.
Order DNA origin analysisGuernay: Where does the name Guernay come from?
Today, the last name Guernay is commonly found in the region of West-central France, and is particularly popular in the departments of Charente and Deux-Sèvres. The last name has its roots in the Duchy of Aquitaine, which later became part of France, with the spelling of the name in the particular area being Guernay. It is derived from a village called Guerné in the 3rd arrondissement of Deux-Sèvres, located in Lower Poitou.
The name is still frequently seen in the region of Poitou-Charentes in the Southwest of the country. It is estimated that some 2000 people in France bear the last name Guernay. The earliest references to the name were found in Saint-Gelais in the Charente region in 1203. The name has also been seen in some records in the 16th century in neighbouring department of Vienne.
Today, the name can also be found across the Atlantic, as there have been French emigrants who have taken the name to other countries in the world. Given its French origin, people with the last name can be found in North America, especially Canada and the United States of America. The name can also be found in other French-speaking countries, such as Belgium, Switzerland, Haiti, Martinique and Réunion.
Variations of the surname Guernay
The surname Guernay is a topographical or habitational surname originating from the area of Normandy, France near the city of Guernay. Its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include:
Gernay, Guerné, Guernet, Guernez, Guèrnè, Guerney, Guerné-Desault, Guernhé, Guernie, Guernier, Guernio, Guernot, Gurnay, and Gurney.
Gurnay is believed to be the most common variant of the surname Guernay. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word gurne, meaning “clump” or “heap”.
Guerné is a variant of the surname Guernay. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word garn, meaning “hractice” or “dignity”.
Guernet is a variant of the surname Guernay that is commonly found in the countryside of Normandy. The name is believed to have derived from the Old French word gurnier, meaning “kernel of grain”.
Guernez is a variant of the surname Guernay. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word guerne, meaning “young pig”.
Guèrnè is a variant of the surname Guernay. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word guerne, meaning “wool”.
Guerney is a variant of the surname Guernay. Its origin is unknown, but some believe it to be a variant of Guernez.
Guerné-Desault is a variant of the surname Guernay. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word gurne, meaning “clump” or “heap”, combined with the French word d’eau, meaning “water”.
Guernhé is a variant of the surname Guernay. It likely derives from the Old French word guerne, meaning “bale of hay”.
Guernie is a variant of the surname Guernay. It is believed to have derived from the Old French words guernette, meaning “field” or “farm”, and guerne, meaning “bale of hay”.
Guernier is a variant of the surname Guernay. Its origin is unknown, but some believe it is derived from the Old German word guernage, meaning “protection”.
Guernio is a variant of the surname Guernay. Its origin is unknown, but it is believed to be derived from the Old French word gero, meaning “cut” or “sever”.
Guernot is a variant of the surname Guernay. It likely derived from the Old French word gurnau, meaning “select” or “choose”.
Famous people with the name Guernay
- Nicolas Guernay, French cyclist
- Javier Guernay, former professional soccer player
- Laure Guernay, French socialite
- Jean Guernay, former French army officer, politician and businessman
- Antonin Guernay, French watercolor painter
- Michelle Guernay, American reality television contestant
- Brandon Guernay, American basketball player
- Cédric Guernay, French business executive
- George Guernay, French-Belgian actor
- Eugène Guernay, French poet, novelist and playwright