Surname Gurnee - Meaning and Origin

Gurnee: What does the surname Gurnee mean?

The last name Gurnee is of French origin and is believed to derive from the term “Gournay”, a town in the Seine-Maritime region of France. It is believed to have been used to refer to someone who hailed from the locality. It is also believed that in some instances, the name Gurnee was used to refer to someone who resided near a stream or brook.

The name Gurnee is believed to have been adopted by some people during the 17th century. It is thought that a number of French immigrants brought the name with them when they migrated to other countries, such as the US and Australia. Over time, variations of the name have emerged, including the surnames Furne, Tourne, and Furn.

Today, the name Gurnee is still common in many countries. It is most prevalent, however, in the United States, where it is estimated that around 5,500 people have the name. In France, around 2,100 people bear the name, and it is also relatively common in Australia, Canada, and Britain.

The perception of the name Gurnee has been relatively positive. Many people associate it with the French and its connection with the long-established French culture and tradition. As such, people often view the name Gurnee with a sense of admiration and respect.

Gurnee: Where does the name Gurnee come from?

Gurnee is a surname that is most commonly found in the United States. It is primarily associated with individuals of English or Irish descent. The earliest records of the Gurnee name in the US can be traced back to the 18th century and the states of New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Today, Gurnee is still found in these same areas, but is also moderately spread throughout the United States. States that have the highest concentrations of individuals with this surname include New York, Massachusetts, California, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. The surname is also found in the United Kingdom, primarily in Northern England and other areas of the British Isles.

Variations of the surname Gurnee

The surname Gurnee is an Old English habitational name that originated from places like Gunby and Gorny located in Lincolnshire, England. Gurny and Gorney are two spelling variants of the surname Gurnee. Other spelling variants include Gurny, Garny, Gornay, Gernay, Gornay, Gorneye, and Gorney.

The surname Gurnee is also commonly found in America, having been brought by immigrant settlers in the 1600s and 1700s. Regional variants of Gurnee include Gurn, Garni, and Gouin. Variants in other languages include the German-derived Gorny, Kern and Kerny, and the French-derived Gorné, Gorné and Gurin.

Gurnee is a surname that is thought to have derived from the Old English elements ‘gunne’ meaning ‘battle,’ and ‘by’ meaning ‘village, settlement’. It is also related to the Serbo-Croatian word 'gurn', meaning 'peasant farmer', or 'countryman'.

Another interpretation of Gurnee is as an Americanized spelling of the Irish surname Gormley. The Gormley surname derives from the Gaelic Ó Gadhmaill meaning 'descendant of Gadhmaill' which is a river, lake or marsh name meaning 'cannes-footed'.

In addition, Gurnee can also be an alternative spelling of Gurney, a similar-sounding Anglo-Norman name which comes from a Germanic personal name, Gornwald. This name is composed of the Germanic roots 'garn' meaning 'spear' and 'wald meaning 'rule'.

Therefore, some of the many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as the surname Gurnee are: Gurny, Garny, Gornay, Gernay, Gornay, Gorneye, Gorney, Gurn, Garni, Gouin, Gorny, Kern, Kerny, Gorné, Gorné, Gurin, Gormley, and Gurney.

Famous people with the name Gurnee

• Milburn Gurnee: Milburn Gurnee was an American politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois from 1927 to 1933.
• Stephen Gurnee: Stephen Gurnee is an American actor who is best known for his roles in crime drama series such as CSI: Miami and Dexter.
• Robert Gurnee: Robert Gurnee was an American lawyer who served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1921 to 1923.
• Lindsay Gurnee: Lindsay Gurnee is an American financer and businesswoman. She currently serves as the chief financial officer and head of strategy at Liquidation Technologies, LLC.
• Dave Gurnee: Dave Gurnee is an American ice hockey and soccer coach, and a former professional player. He currently serves as the head coach of the Men's Hockey team at Endicott College.
• Dale Gurnee: Dale Gurnee is an American songwriter, record producer and guitarist. He co-wrote hits such as "I Wanna Know What Love Is" for Foreigner, and "Celebrate" for Kool & the Gang.
• Albert B. Gurnee: Albert B. Gurnee was an American physician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1905 to 1911.
• Louis K. Gurnee: Louis K. Gurnee was an American state Assemblyman who served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1873 to 1877.
• Joshua Gurnee: Joshua Gurnee was an American businessman in the late 19th century. He was a founding partner of Wm. Gurnee & Sons, a financial services company.
• Adam J. Gurnee: Adam J. Gurnee is an American entrepreneur who is the founder of Gurnee Media, a production company that specializes in photography, digital content and web design.

Other surnames

GurneyGurneye