Contents [hide]

Gee History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Gee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The Strathclyde Briton clans of the Scottish/English Borderlands were the first to use the name Gee. It is derived from the personal name Gee. The origins of the surname Gee are extremely uncertain. In fact, many forms of the name did not appear prior to the 16th century. The existence of the patronym Geeson, suggests that the name is indeed of patronymic origin. Patronymic names are merely one of many types of surnames, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Many patronyms arose out of the religious and vernacular naming traditions, which adopted the names of famous figures as surnames. The most common form of patronym, however, was taken from the given name of the father of the bearer. The Gee family was found in Scotland, in Dumfriesshire, in the early Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Gee family

The surname Gee was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area. Another source claims the name was derived from the Irish MagAoidh, meaning 'son of Aodh,' and in Scotland, more often than not the "Mac" or "Mc" prefix was used.

Gilmighel Mac Ethe of Dumfries rendered homage to King Edward I of England in 1296. and a year later, Gille Michel MacGethe was thanked by Edward I for putting down evildoers and for other services. The following year Neel McEthe, Gillecryst McEthe, Hoen McEthe, Cuthbert his brother, and all of the lineage of Clenafren, made submission to Edward I. Gilbert McGeth was custumar or collector of customs in the burgh of Kirkcudbrith in 1331. 1

Later, some of the family were found further south in England, specifically Cheshire where Dicon Gee was listed in the Stockport Parish in 1494, and Thomas Gee and Anne Lowe were married at Prestbury, Cheshire in 1562.

Uxor Johis Gee de Godley Hall was buried in Longendale, Cheshire in 1500. In this case, "this surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Gee,' now Gee Cross, a prosperous village in the parish of Stockport. That all our Gees hail from this spot admits of no doubt. The local registers teem with them. A glance at the index to Earwaker's East Cheshire will show that they had early spread themselves out into the surrounding country." 2

Early History of the Gee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gee research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1331, 1424, 1426, 1565, 1582, 1586, 1595, 1596, 1613, 1618, 1619, 1639, 1657, 1660, 1682, 1705 and 1730 are included under the topic Early Gee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gee Spelling Variations

The variation in the spelling of Medieval names is a result of the lack of spelling rules in the English language prior to the last few hundred years. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound, often varying the spelling of name within a single document. Gee has appeared as Gee, MacGee, MacGhie, MacGhee, Magee and others.

Early Notables of the Gee family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Michael Magy, a kinsman of the tyrant David Menzies in Orkney, is mentioned in 1424; Gilbert M'Gy was styled lord of Balmage in 1426; Ion M'Ghey was vicar and minister of Kildalton, 1595; and William...
Edward Gee (1565-1618), was an English divine, son of Ralph Gee of Manchester. He entered as servitor of Merton College, Oxford, on 22 Feb. 1582. He graduated B.A. in 1586, and two years after was ele...
Edward Gee (1613-1660), was a Presbyterian divine and thought by Wood to be the son of Edward Gee, vicar of Tedburn. He is said to have been born at Banbury, Oxfordshire, but it has since been proved...
John Gee (1596-1639), was a writer against Roman Catholics and was grandson of Ralph Gee of Manchester, nephew of Edward Gee (1565-1618.) His brother Sir Orlando Gee (1619-1705), twenty-three years Jo...
Another Edward Gee (1657-1730), was a Protestant writer, son of George Gee of Manchester, shoemaker

Gee World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gee is the 1,555^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 3 However, in Australia, the name Gee is ranked the 743^rd most popular surname with an estimated 5,233 people with that name. 4 And in New Zealand, the name Gee is the 683^rd popular surname with an estimated 1,039 people with that name. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Gee as 688^th with 9,678 people. 6

Migration of the Gee family to Ireland

Some of the Gee family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gee migration to the United States +

As the persecution of Clan families continued, they sailed for North America in increasing numbers. In most cases, they found the freedom and opportunity they sought. Land was often available and the American War of Independence allowed Scots an opportunity to solidify their independence from the English crown. These settlers and their ancestors went on to play essential roles in the forging of the nations of the United States and Canada. Among them:

Gee Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Gee, who landed in New Hampshire in 1630 7
Ralph Gee, who landed in New Hampshire in 1630 7
John Gee, aged 18, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Transport" 7
Jon Gee, who landed in Virginia in 1637 7
William Gee, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gee Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Gee, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 7
M Gee, aged 24, who landed in America in 1821 7
Edward A Gee, who landed in New York, NY in 1833 7
Drury M C Gee, who arrived in Texas in 1835 7
Eason Gee, who landed in Texas in 1835 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gee migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gee Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Judith Foley Gee, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1831
Soloman Gee, aged 31, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Perceval" from Plymouth, England
Mary Gee, aged 29, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Perceval" from Plymouth, England
Soloman Gee, aged 7, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Perceval" from Plymouth, England
Mary Gee, aged 4, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Perceval" from Plymouth, England
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gee migration to Australia +

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

Gee Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Edward Gee, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 8
John Gee, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. James Gee, English convict who was convicted in Derby, Derbyshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st September 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. George Gee, English convict who was convicted in Hertfordshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th July 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Frederick Gee, (Mcghee, Macghee), (b. 1821), aged 18, English boat man who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Egyptian" on 5th April 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1887 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gee migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Gee Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Gee, aged 27, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
Mary A. Gee, aged 27, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
Elizabeth Gee, aged 2, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
Mrs. Rebecca Gee, (b. 1826), aged 33, English settler from Middlesex travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1859 13
Mr Thomas Major Gee, (b. 1829), aged 30, English schoolmaster from Middlesex travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1859 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gee (post 1700) +

Matthew Gee (1925-1979), American bebop trombonist
Maggie Gee (1923-2013), American aviator who served in the Women Airforce Service Pilots in World War II, recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010
Elwood Gordon Gee (b. 1944), American academic, 14th President of Ohio State University (2007-2013)
John Alexander "Johnny" Gee Jr. , (1915-1988), nicknamed "Long John Gee" and "Whiz", American Major League Baseball player and professional basketball player
James Gee (b. 1948), American researcher and professor in psycholinguistics, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, bilingual education, and literacy
Alonzo Gee (b. 1987), American NBA basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers
Dillon Kyle Gee (b. 1986), American Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Mets
Margaret Gee, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1988 14
John P. Gee, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Louisiana, 1964 14
Jeanne A. Gee, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1956 14
... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Gee family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Percy Gee, British Assistant Saloon Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 15

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Ernest Gee, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 16

RMS Titanic

Mr. Arthur H. Gee (d. 1912), aged 47, English First Class passenger from St. Annes-on-Sea, Lancashire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 17

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1823
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1828 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1828
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-grey
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/egyptian
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html