Surname MacGurrie - Meaning and Origin
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MacGurrie: What does the surname MacGurrie mean?
The last name MacGurrie is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name MacGribhe, sometimes also written as MacGrieve or MacGruer. The Gaelic root word ‘gribhe’ means ‘man of valor’ or ‘hero’, so the name MacGurrie can be translated as ‘son of the hero’.
The MacGurrie surname is associated with clans from Invernesshire and Ross-Shire in the Scottish Highlands. Historically, members of these clans were known as fierce warriors and were renowned for their bravery in battle. The surname is thought to have been in use as early as the 13th century.
The origins of the MacGurrie surname appear to be mostly Scottish, although the exact origin of the name is unknown. One theory suggests that the name originates from Irish warriors who were known to have settled in the Scottish Highlands in the 1200s. Another theory suggests that the MacGurrie family may have descended from warriors of Orcadian Viking descent.
Today, the MacGurrie surname can be found all over the world. In Scotland, it is most commonly found in Aberdeenshire, Inverness-shire, and Ross-shire. In the US, the name is found in areas with large Scottish-American populations such as New York, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. In Canada, the MacGurrie family is found mostly in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Whichever theory is true, it is evident that the MacGurrie name has a long and storied history, linked with bravery and warrior-like qualities. Those who carry the name of MacGurrie can take great pride in the bravery and nobility which their ancestors are thought to have possessed.
Order DNA origin analysisMacGurrie: Where does the name MacGurrie come from?
The surname MacGurrie is most commonly found in Scotland today. A historical sept of the Clan MacGregor, the MacGurries have their origins in the lands of Argyll in Southwest Scotland.At the peak.their population was 2,377 in 1881. The surname also found its way to Ulster in Northern Ireland, where a number of MacGurries emigrated during the 17th and 18th centuries.
In modern times, the MacGurrie surname is most prevalent in Scotland. Records from The UK Office for National Statistics show that MacGurrie was the 864th most popular surname in Scotland in 2016. It was also the 2644th most popular surname in Great Britain in 2016, with the vast majority of it's population in Scotland.
The Clan Newsletter states "The surname is still common in Argyll to this day, being found in Glenorchy and Inveraray, as well as in parts of Scotland as far north as Sutherland." This suggests the MacGurrie surname is still found throughout a great deal of Scotland.
With such a long history, the MacGurrie surname has spread to many places around the world. The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and England, among others, now all have MacGurrie families where none had been before.
While it may be difficult to track the movements of this ancient clan, today the surname MacGurrie can be most readily found in Scotland and its surrounding areas.
Variations of the surname MacGurrie
The surname MacGurrie is a variation of the Scottish surname MacGurk. It is a patronymic name derived from the personal name Gurk, which may be a variant of the Gaelic personal name Marcacc, derived from marc meaning 'horse'. It is believed to have referred originally to a large, powerful horse.
The majority of bearers of this surname are concentrated in Argyllshire, a region in the western highlands of Scotland, where it has been present for several centuries. The variants, spellings and surnames with a similar origin to MacGurrie include MacGurk, MacGirk, MacGurck, MacGorge, MacGourk, Magurk, Magurke, MacGorg, and McGorik.
The variant spellings of MacGurrie often are seen in Scotland and other English-speaking countries. For example, the variant MacGurk is still used in Scotland today, as are the spellings MacGirk and MacGurck. The variant MacGorge is less common, but is still recorded as a variant spelling in some Scottish records. The variant MacGourk is mainly seen in Australia and Canada, and the derivative form Magurk is generally found in the United States.
The variants MacGorg and McGorik can be found in a few records in Scotland. while Magurke is a rare variant that is only found in Australia and Canada. The spelling MacGurrie remains the most common form of the surname.
Famous people with the name MacGurrie
- Garry MacGurrie: British social entrepreneur and former Executive Director of Birmingham Settlement.
- Colin MacGurrie: Canadian soccer player.
- Robert MacGurrie: Scottish physician and lecturer in forensic medicine at the University of Dundee, Scotland.
- Craig MacGurrie: professional basketball coach and former player.
- Pat MacGurrie: Scottish rock drummer, founding member of the rock band Stone The Crows.
- Jimmy MacGurrie: Scottish footballer who played for clubs such as Airdrieonians, Partick Thistle, Dundee United and Forfar Athletic.
- Archibald MacGurrie: Scottish politician, landed proprietor and banker, from the MacGurrie family of Ardlarich House, Scotland.
- Edwin C. MacGurrie: American chemist, known for his research in the area of organosilicon chemistry.
- Andrew MacGurrie: Scottish-born architectural engineer who worked in Europe and the United States.
- Shona MacGurrie: Scottish stage, television and film actress.
- James S. MacGurrie: American naval officer and legal scholar.
- William S. MacGurrie: Scottish electrical engineer, entrepreneur and inventor.