Gorse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Gorse family

The surname Gorse was first found in Staffordshire where the Pipe Rolls of 1130 list Gotso dapifer. A few years later, Gosce and Joce de Brunna were listed in Lincolnshire in 1195. From these earliest entries as a forename, we found Hugo Gosse in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1202 and Geoffrey Gosse in Huntingdonshire in 1251. The Pipe Rolls of 1205 for Suffolk included Richard Goce and Thomas Joce was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 proved the widespread use of the name in a variety of spellings: Isabel le Gous, Cambridgeshire; Walter le Gows, Cambridgeshire; and Michael le Govs, Somerset. 2 In Somerset, Richard le Goos and William Goose were listed there 1 Edward III (in the first year of the reign of Edward III.) 3

In Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Cicilia Gous and Johannes Gosse as holding lands there at that time. 2

"The name of Goss is now best represented in the Aylesbury district [of Buckinghamshire]. In the 13th century Gosse was a common Bucks name, occurring in Stoke Goldington, Ravenstone, and in other parts of the county." 4

The source Baines' Lancashire notes "Thomas Goose was executed at Garstang, Lancashire, Feb. 14, 1716, for joining the Scotch insurgents in 1715."

Early History of the Gorse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gorse research. Another 172 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1195, 1202, 1205, 1327, 1359, 1400, 1402, 1770, 1800, 1811, 1814, 1817, 1841, 1872 and 1880 are included under the topic Early Gorse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gorse Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gosse, Goss, Joss, Jose and others.

Early Notables of the Gorse family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Alexander Goss (1814-1872), Roman Catholic bishop of Liverpool, born at Ormskirk, Lancashire, on 5 July 1814, educated at St. Cuthbert's College, Ushaw, and at the English College, Rome, where he was ordained priest by Cardinal Fransoni in 1841. 5Sir John Goss (1800-1880), the English musical composer, born at Fareham, Hampshire, on 27 Dec...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gorse Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gorse migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gorse Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Thomas Gorse, aged 44, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Olympic" from Liverpool, England 6
Alfred Gorse, aged 37, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Niagara" from Bordeaux, France 6
Clara N. Gorse, aged 54, originally from Accrington, England, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Imperator" from Southampton, England 6
Maggie Gorse, aged 29, originally from St. Helens, England, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Aquitania" from Liverpool, England 6
Hazel Gorse, aged 3, originally from St. Helens, England, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Aquitania" from Liverpool, England 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Gorse (post 1700) +

Ashlan Gorse (b. 1980), birth name of Ashlan Gorse Cousteau, an American entertainment journalist and explorer, known for her work with E! News, Discovery Channel, and Travel Channel, wife of Philippe Cousteau Jr
H. C. Gorse, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 1912 7
Georges Gorse (1915-2002), French politician and diplomat, Under-secretary of State for Muslim Affairs 1946 to 1947, Ambassador to Algeria, 1963 to 1967, Minister of Labour, 1973 to 1974, Mayor of Boulogne-Billancourt, 1971 to 1991

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html