Surname Gurnie - Meaning and Origin
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Gurnie: What does the surname Gurnie mean?
The last name Gurnie is of Scottish origin and has many variations such as Gurney, Gourney, Gurn, Gurno, Gourneau, and Gourne. This surname was most likely derived from the Old French gournier, meaning “watchman” or “guard”. The Old French word was in turn derived from the Latin gernus, meaning “hedge” or “enclosure”. It is believed that an ancestor of this surname was a “Gurner” or “Gruner” who was a guardian of a property, estate, or castle.
The earliest records of this surname date back to the early 13th century in Scotland. In 1296, Walter Gurne was a witness to a charter in Kincaragy. Later records include a charter from the 15th century in which David Gurne was recorded as a witness. Notable figures of the Gurnie name include Sir Thomas Gourne of Bridekirk, who lived in the early 16th century and was knighted by Charles I of England.
Today, the surname Gurnie is still prevalent in Scotland, though it is also found throughout England and the United States. It is estimated that there are currently between 8,000 and 10,000 people in the United Kingdom with this surname. This is indicative of this surname holding a place of importance in Scotland’s rich history.
Order DNA origin analysisGurnie: Where does the name Gurnie come from?
The last name Gurnie is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Australia, particularly in Scotland and New South Wales. The name most likely originates from the Old English and Old Norse elements "gore" meaning spear and "nið" meaning descendant.
The surname has various spelling variants, including Gorney, Gurney, Gurnie, Gorny, Gorni, Gurni, Gourney, and Gurn. It has been documented as far back as 1296, when the name was recorded in Scotland. The earliest recorded spelling of the Gurnie name was in the Church of St. Michael's, in Linton, Yorkshire, from 1297.
In Scotland, the surname was mostly found in Aberdeenshire, while in New South Wales, Australia, the majority of Gurnies live in Edinburgh and some in Sydney. Records have been revealed that the Gurnie family had a presence in the city of Edinburgh since the 16th century.
Today, the Gurnie surname is still prevalent in Scotland and Australia. In terms of popularity, it is relatively low-key and rare in comparison to other surnames, but the number of Gurnies living in the United Kingdom and Australia is fairly large.
Variations of the surname Gurnie
Gurnie is an Anglo-Saxon, Scottish, and Irish surname derived from the Norse words gyrn, meaning “prop” or “latch,” and leah, meaning a “woodland clearing.” The original form of the name is likely to have been MacGurnie, meaning “son of the prop-maker.” Over the centuries, the name has been spelled in a variety of ways, including Gurn, Gurney, Gorney, Gornay, Gorny, and Gurny.
Irish variants of this name are MacGurn, MacGourney, and MacGorny, which likely all developed independently from the Scottish forms. There are several other spellings found in records, including GBrony, Gbronye, Gbrony, and Gbronye.
In his book “Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, George Fraser Black writes that variants of the name Gurnie were found mainly in the north and east of Scotland, particularly Aberdeenshire, Banff-shire, and Forfarshire. In Ireland, Gurny and Gorney are scattered throughout the island, with particular concentrations in the counties of Galway, Mayo, and Sligo.
Some variants of the name are also found in England, mainly in the counties of Kent and Essex, and in the south of Wales.
Gurnie is not a common surname, but is still present in some countries. It is estimated that there are around 900 people in the world with this surname.
Famous people with the name Gurnie
- Emily Gurney: actress and fashion model
- Jack Gurney: actor, producer, and writer
- Stephen Gurney: English actor
- Helena Gurney: British World War II pilot
- Anna Gurney: British artist and singer
- Graham Gurney: Australian rugby league player
- Charles Gurney: English cricketer
- Ross Gurney-Randall: English film director
- Graham Gurney: British athlete
- William Gurney: British World War II veteran