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Show ContentsGregory History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The surname Gregory is of patronymic origin, derived from the personal name of the father of the original bearer. One common practice was to adopt Christian or virtue names. This practice is very common within the Roman Catholic faith. This particular name, then, could have a number of meanings. It was most likely derived from the Greek word 'greorein,' meaning to be watchful. The Latin equivalent 'gregorius' was commonly interchanged with the word 'gregis,' which means flock. This name could, then, be an occupational name assumed by shepherds, or it may allude to Christ, who was deemed the shepherd of the flock. The name Gregory was assumed by a line of Popes. Many people, then, would have adopted Gregory as a surname in tribute to these popes/saints. Alternatively, the name Gregory could have been derived from the term "ghregorein", meaning "to be awake."

The name Gregory spread because of devotion to several saints, particularly Saint Gregory the Great, who was consecrated Pope in 590. His pontificate was marked by zeal in propagating Christianity, and his most important missionary endeavor, the conversion of Britain, was begun, under his direction, by Augustine in 597. The Gregorian chant, a variety of plain song used for liturgical purposes by the Roman Catholic Church for centuries, takes its name from a collection of music assembled by Saint Gregory the Great.

Early Origins of the Gregory family

The surname Gregory was first found in the Iberian Peninsula since the Middle Ages. Much of its popularity is due to the enduring fame of Saint Gregory the Great, who was consecrated Pope in 590. Saint Gregory was zealous in his propagation of Christian doctrine and is noted for his efforts to convert Britain with the assistance of Augustine in the late 6th century.

Early History of the Gregory family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gregory research. Another 27 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1496, 1548, 1560, 1620, 1636, 1647, 1696 and 1726 are included under the topic Early Gregory History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gregory Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gregório, Gregori, Gregory and others.

Early Notables of the Gregory family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gregory Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gregory World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gregory is the 284th most popular surname with an estimated 94,506 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Gregory is ranked the 898th most popular surname with an estimated 5,990 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Gregory is the 569th popular surname with an estimated 80 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Gregory as 288th with 12,259 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Gregory as 360th with 1,783 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Gregory as 168th with 32,058 people. 6

United States Gregory migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gregory Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Richard Gregory, aged 40, who arrived in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "Falcon" 7
  • Richard Gregory, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 7
  • John Gregory (1612–1689), English founding settler of Norwalk, Connecticut from Nottinghamshire in the 1630s, he served in the General Court of the Connecticut Colony for many years
  • Henry Gregory, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1633 7
  • Georg Gregory, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gregory Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Benjamin Gregory, who landed in Mississippi in 1799 7
Gregory Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Casper, Enoch, Jacob, James, John, Patrick, Steven, Thomas, and William Gregory, who settled in Philadelphia between 1800 and 1860
  • M Gregory, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 7
  • Michael Gregory, aged 38, who arrived in New York in 1812 7
  • Robert Gregory, aged 27, who landed in Tennessee in 1812 7
  • Bridget Gregory, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Gregory migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gregory Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Moses Gregory U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 8
  • Mr. Richard Gregory U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 was a passenger aboard "Cyrus" on August 21, 1783 from New York to Saint John River 8
  • Mr. Richard P. Gregory U.E. (b. 1751) who settled in Kingston, Kings Co., NB c. 1784 he died in 1847 8
Gregory Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Gregory, who arrived in Canada in 1840
  • Carter Gregory, who landed in Canada in 1841
  • Mr. Andrew Gregory who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Junior" departing 10th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 3rd July 1847 but he died on board 9

Australia Gregory migration to Australia +

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

Gregory Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Henrietta Gregory, (Benfleet), (b. 1775), aged 39, English servant who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years for coining, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1819 10
  • Miss Ann Gregory, (b. 1803), aged 11, English settler travelling with mother Henrietta Gregory, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Mr. Edward Gregory, (b. 1805), aged 9, English settler travelling with mother Henrietta Gregory, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Mr. Charles Gregory, (b. 1807), aged 7, English settler travelling with mother Henrietta Gregory, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Mr. George Gregory, (b. 1814), aged 2 months, English settler travelling with mother Henrietta Gregory, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gregory Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Ernest Gregory, (b. 1888), aged 24, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Marathon" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 5th December 1912 11

New Zealand Gregory 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:

Gregory Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Gregory, aged 32, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
  • Mary Gregory, aged 30, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
  • Robert Gregory, aged 11, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
  • Rhoda Gregory, aged 7, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
  • Martha Gregory, aged 5, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gregory (post 1700) +

  • John Gregory (1938-2022), American football head coach in the Canadian Football League (NFL), Arena Football League (AFL), and Indoor Football League (IFL)
  • Earle Davis Gregory (1897-1972), American World War I Medal of Honor recipient 12
  • Richard Claxton "Dick" Gregory (1932-2017), American civil rights activist, social critic, writer, entrepreneur and comedian
  • Lieutenant-General Edmund Bristol Gregory (1882-1961), American Quartermaster-General (1940-1944) 13
  • Lieutenant Colonel (USAF, Ret.) William George Gregory (b. 1957), former NASA astronaut with 16 days in space 14
  • Colonel (USAF, Ret.) Frederick Drew Gregory (b. 1941), NASA Astronaut with over 455 hours in space 15
  • Horace Gregory (1898-1982), prize-winning American poet, translator of classic poetry, literary critic and college professor 16
  • James Gregory (b. 1946), American stand-up comedian 17
  • Hayden A. Buck Gregory, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
  • Michael Seward "Mike" Gregory (1956-2022), English professional darts player, who reached the final of the Winmau World Masters twice
  • ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Frederick Gregory, British Assistant Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 18
HMS Cornwall
  • Robert William Haig Gregory, British Marine aboard the HMS Cornwall (1942) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 19
HMS Hood
  • Mr. John Gregory (b. 1919), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Sutton-in-Ashford, Nottinghamshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20
  • Mr. Arthur H Gregory (b. 1910), English Leading Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Poole, Dorsetshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20
HMS Royal Oak
  • A.V. Gregory, British Lieutenant Commander with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 21
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. John Henry Gregory, English Trimmer from Peckham, London, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 22
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. David Gregory (d. 1912), aged 43, English Greaser from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 23
Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. Arthur Joseph Gregory (b. 1893), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. 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)
  8. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  9. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 78)
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
  11. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.pdf
  12. Earle Gregory. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Earle Gregory. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earle_D._Gregory
  13. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 11) Edmund Gregory. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Gregory/Edmund_Bristol/USA.html
  14. NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) William Gregory. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/gregor-w.html
  15. NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Frederick Gregory. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/gregory-fd.html
  16. Horace Gregory. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Horace Gregory. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Gregory
  17. James Gregory. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) James Gregory. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Gregory_%28comedian%29
  18. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  19. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  20. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  21. 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
  22. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  23. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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