Gory Surname History

Origins Available:
Scotland

The age-old Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland are the ancestral home of the Gory family. Their name comes from 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 Gory family

The surname Gory 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 Gory family

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

Gory Spelling Variations

Medieval spelling was at best an intuitive process, and translation between Gaelic and English was no more effective. These factors caused an enormous number of spelling variations in Dalriadan names. In fact, it was not uncommon to see a father and son who spelled their name differently. Over the years, Gory has been spelled MacGorrie, MacGorry, MacGory, MacGorey and others.

Early Notables of the Gory family

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

Gory migration to the United States +

Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Gorys to arrive on North American shores:

Gory Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Gory, who arrived in Virginia in 1709 1
John Gory, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 1

Gory Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Phil Gory, who landed in Texas in 1855 1

The Gory 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.

Citations +

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)