Show ContentsGoreine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Goreine is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Goreine family lived in the places named Goring in Oxfordshire and Sussex. The place-name was originally derived from the Old English word Garingas, which means people of Gara. This name is a short form of various compound names with the first portion gar, which means spear.

Early Origins of the Goreine family

The surname Goreine was first found in Sussex at Goring, where at the time of the Domesday Book was part of the earldom of Arundel. 1 "The name is derived from Goring, in the rape [sub-division] of Arundel, where the family can be traced to John de Goring, living in the reign of Edward II. " 2

So as to underscore the Sussex origin, another authority notes the name is from "a parish in Sussex where the ancestors of the baronet's family wore resident at an early period. John de Goring was lord before temp. Edward II." 3

And another source wrote "Hugh Bygod was Lord of Garringes or Goring, Sussex, 13th cent. He was executor of the will of the Countess of Norfolk, 1248. John de Garringes, his son, had a daughter and heir, who married Henry Tregoz, M.P. for Sussex 1309. The bailsman of Henry T. was John Goring, probably nephew of John de Goring or Garringes. From the latter descended the family of De Goring, afterwards Lords Goring, Earls of Norwich, so distinguished in the Civil Wars 17th century, and the Baronets Goring. This family appears to be a younger branch of the Bygods Earls of Norfolk." 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Priorissa de Goringe Oxfordshire; and Philip Goring, Wiltshire. 5

"The Oxfordshire Goring occurs as Goringe in the 13th cent." 6

Early History of the Goreine family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goreine research. Another 187 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1585, 1608, 1615, 1621, 1622, 1628, 1629, 1632, 1646, 1657, 1658, 1660, 1661, 1663, 1671, 1673, 1678, 1679, 1685, 1702 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Goreine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goreine Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Goreine include Goring, Gorring, Goringe, Gorringe, Goreing and many more.

Early Notables of the Goreine family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was George Goring, 1st Earl of Norwich (1585-1663), an English soldier and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1628; Charles Goring, 2nd Earl of Norwich (1615-1671), an English soldier and aristocrat; George Goring, Lord Goring (1608-1657), an English Royalist soldier; Sir William Goring (died 1658), the son of Sir...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Goreine Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Goreine family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Goreines to arrive on North American shores: Joseph Gorring who settled in Baltimore, Maryland in 1820; Elizabeth Gorring settled in Virginia in 1677.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print


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