Show ContentsGorie Surname History

Etymology of Gorie

What does the name Gorie mean?

The ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland spawned the name Gorie. It is derived 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 Gorie family

The surname Gorie 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 Gorie family

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

Gorie Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. Gorie has appeared as MacGorrie, MacGorry, MacGory, MacGorey and others.

Early Notables of the Gorie family

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

Migration of the Gorie family

Many settled along the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. As the American War of Independence broke out, those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these hardy Dalriadan-Scottish settlers began to recover their collective history in the 20th century with the advent of the vibrant culture fostered by highland games and Clan societies in North America. Highland games, Clan societies, and other organizations generated much renewed interest in Scottish heritage in the 20th century. The Gorie were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown: Hugh MacGorry, who came to Philadelphia in 1852; David and James MacGory, who settled in Philadelphia in 1856; and Thomas MacGorrie, who was on record in Texas in 1875..


Contemporary Notables of the name Gorie (post 1700) +

  • Captain (USN, Ret.) Dominic Lee Pudwill Gorie (b. 1957), American Commander of the Space Shuttle Endevour on mission STS-123 and has logged over 49 days in space 1


  1. NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Dominic Gorie. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/gorie.html


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