Show ContentsGorink History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

When the ancestors of the Gorink family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They 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 Gorink family

The surname Gorink 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 Gorink family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gorink 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 Gorink History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gorink Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Gorink has been recorded under many different variations, including Goring, Gorring, Goringe, Gorringe, Goreing and many more.

Early Notables of the Gorink 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 Gorink Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gorink family

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Gorinks were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: 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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