Show ContentsGorsuch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Gorsuch family

The surname Gorsuch was first found in Lancashire at Gosfordsich (later named Gorsuch.)

"Gorsuch was given by Walter de Scarisbrick to his younger son Adam, who took the local surname; subsequently the land was given to Burscough Priory to be held of Adam in free alms. The prior regranted it to Adam at a rent of 12d. with other lands in Scarisbrick, a yearly pound of cummin to be paid. Adam was succeeded by Walter de Gorsuch, probably his son, as is indicated by a grant to Nicholas son of Simon de Renacres."

"In May, 1292, an agreement was sealed for the marriage of Robert son of Walter de Gorsuch with Agnes granddaughter of William Brid of Donnington; Robert, though a minor, had been enfeoffed of lands by the prior of Burscough, his father binding the feoffees to find food and raiment for Robert and Agnes, any surplus to be kept for them and delivered with the lands on their coming of age. Robert seems to have died without issue, and his brother John succeeded, marrying in 1299 Cecily daughter of Richard de Culcheth. John de Gorsuch granted (about 1320) to Gilbert his son lands in the townfields of Scarisbrick on the north of land near the cross, held of William son of Richard de Scarisbrick." [1]

Years later, John de Gosefordsik was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332. [2] He held estates just outside Liverpool, near Ormskirk. [3] "The many variants are curious but natural. The 't' is intrusive; compare the Lancashire surname Gorse and Gorst, which represents one and the same name." [3] The family remained local to this area as almost three hundred years later in 1615, the Wills at Chester list "James Gorsuch, of Gorsuch, Scarisback, gentleman." [3] The same source also lists: James Gorsuch, of Ormskirk, 1605; Henry Gorsage, of Kirkdale, 1579; Peter Sant, of Gorstich, 1609; and Henry Gorstich, of West Derby, Liverpool, 1609. The Preston Guild Rolls of 1602 listed Edward Gorsuche. [3]

Early History of the Gorsuch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gorsuch research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1437, 1442, 1455, 1487 and 1545 are included under the topic Early Gorsuch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gorsuch Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gossage, Gostage, Gorstidge, Gorstice, Gorstage, Gostige, Gossidge, Gossadge, Gossedge and many more.

Early Notables of the Gorsuch family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • John Gorsuch, Vice-chancellor of Oxford University, England from 1437-1442

Gorsuch Ranking

In the United States, the name Gorsuch is the 12,214th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [4]


United States Gorsuch migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gorsuch Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Kath Gorsuch, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 [5]
  • Lovelace Gorsuch, who landed in Virginia in 1652 [5]
  • Anne Gorsuch, who landed in Virginia in 1652 [5]
  • Charles Gorsuch, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 [5]
  • John Gorsuch, who landed in Virginia in 1657 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Gorsuch migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gorsuch Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Fanny Gorsuch, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Buckinghamshire" in 1839 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Gorsuch (post 1700) +

  • Neil McGill Gorsuch (b. 1967), American jurist, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2006-), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (2017)
  • Renie Gorsuch (b. 1938), American member of US Women's Ski team at the 1960 Winter Olympics and co-founder of the Gorsuch retail chain
  • Anne Gorsuch (1942-2004), American attorney and politician
  • Nathan I. Gorsuch, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Westminster, Maryland, 1866-69 [7]
  • L. M. Gorsuch, American politician, Mayor of Frostburg, Maryland, 1871-72, 1875-76 [7]
  • John F. Gorsuch, American Republican politician, Member of Alaska Territorial Senate 3rd District, 1953-54 [7]
  • Harry P. Gorsuch, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Westminster, Maryland, 1910-14 [7]
  • Robert Gorsuch (b. 1952), English professional footballer

HMS Royal Oak
  • Ernest Douglas Gorsuch (1919-1939), British Stoker 2nd Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [8]


  1. 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Buckinghamshire.htm
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  8. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


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