Gorrill Surname History

Origins Available:
Scotland

The west coast of Scotland and the rocky Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the Gorrill family. The root of their name is the personal name Goraidh, an Old Norse forename. The Gaelic form of the name was Mac Goraidh, which means son of Goraidh. or son of Godfrey.

Early Origins of the Gorrill family

The surname Gorrill was first found in on the Isle of Skye, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Gorrill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gorrill research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1380 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Gorrill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gorrill Spelling Variations

Spelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. Gorrill has appeared in various documents spelled MacGorrie, MacGorry, MacGory, MacGorey and others.

Early Notables of the Gorrill family

More information is included under the topic Early Gorrill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gorrill family

Ancestors of many of the Dalriadan families who crossed the Atlantic still live along the east coast of the United States and Canada. Some Scottish settlers arrived in Canada during the American War of Independence as United Empire Loyalists, while others stayed south to fight for a new nation. The descendants of Scottish settlers in both countries began to rediscover their heritage in the 19th and 20th centuries through Clan societies and highland games. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Gorrill or a variant listed above: Hugh MacGorry, who came to Philadelphia in 1852; David and James MacGory, who settled in Philadelphia in 1856; and Thomas MacGorrie, who was on record in Texas in 1875..

The Gorrill Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Per mare per terras
Motto Translation: By sea and by land.