Surname McGorrie - Meaning and Origin

McGorrie: What does the surname McGorrie mean?

The last name McGorrie is of Scottish origin, and it is derived from the Gaelic MacGorrie or MacGorry. The first element of these surnames is "mac" which translates as "son of". The second element is "Gorrie/Gorry", which was originally a personal name derived from the Gaelic word "górda" meaning "hero".

The McGorrie surname is usually found in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. In the 17th century, as people moved out of their homelands and to other areas looking for work, the McGorrie name spread to other regions. A substantial number of those bearing the McGorrie surname can now be found in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow as well as other counties in Scotland.

It is not certain what clan the McGorrie name belongs to; there are several Scottish clans which have the same origin. However some people link the McGorrie family to the Clan MacGregor, and any person bearing the McGorrie name today is likely to be descended from a MacGregor ancestor.

Although originally associated with the Highlands, the McGorrie surname can now be found in a wide variety of locations, particularly in the UK and the US.

McGorrie: Where does the name McGorrie come from?

The last name McGorrie is most commonly found in Scotland today. According to the UK census from 2018, there were over 3,800 people with the name McGorrie living in Scotland, making up approximately 0.1% of the population. It is not particularly common outside of Scotland, however there are small numbers of people with the name McGorrie living in England, Northern Ireland, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

The McGorrie family have been primarily found in the Ayrshire and Renfrewshire regions of Scotland as far back as the 15th century. It is believed the name is derived from the Gaelic Mac Goraidh, which translates to 'son of Goraidh', with Goraidh being a Viking personal name.

The origin of the McGorrie family is believed to trace back to the Robertson and Montieth families in the Lowland parts of Scotland. The spelling of the name has also changed over the years – in some early documents it was spelt MacGorrie or McCorrie.

Today, the name McGorrie remains quite popular throughout Scotland, with a majority of those carrying the name living in Glasgow and the surrounding area, as well as the Isle of Skye. It is also a relatively rare name – despite its prevalence in Scotland – thanks to immigration and emigration from the country over the centuries.

Variations of the surname McGorrie

The surname McGorrie is a Scottish surname that traces its roots to the MacGorry line of Clan Donnachaidh. It has many variants and spellings, including McGorry, McGory, McGori, MacGori, MacGorry, and MacGorey. It is also an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname MacGoraidh, derived from the personal name Goraidh, which means “illustrious”.

McGorries may also be referred to by the surnames Macgregor, MacGregor, Mageregory, Macgregore, MacGergory, Macgerry, and Macgory. Additionally, the American spelling McRorie is also used among some families.

The McGorrie surname is most common in Scotland, where it is found primarily in the regions of Dumfries & Galloway, North Ayrshire, and South Lanarkshire. However, the surname has also spread to other parts of the world, including Ireland, England, Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and other areas where Scots-Irish immigrants settled.

The McGorrie family crest is a highland stag on an orange background, and the McGorrie tartan is a combination of green and yellow stripes. It is unclear if the crest or tartan were used by the original MacGorry line, but they have been adopted by modern-day McGorries.

Famous people with the name McGorrie

• Garnet McGorrie: Canadian Former Politician
• Stephanie McGorrie: English Skier
• David McGorrie: Former New Zealand Rugby Player
• Colin McGorrie: British Olympian Boxer
• Camee McGorrie: American Model
• Debra McGorrie: Canadian Broadcaster
• Stuart McGorrie: British Footballer
• William McGorrie: Canadian Social Activist
• Jody McGorrie: Canadian Screenwriter
• Karen McGorrie: Canadian Producer
• Tom McGorrie: American Country Music Artist
• Bruno McGorrie: Canadian Photographer
• Jim McGorrie: Canadian Hockey Player
• Cameron McGorrie: Canadian Actor
• Jimena McGorrie: Argentinian Lawyer
• Robert McGorrie: British Politician
• Martina McGorrie: British Actress
• Chris McGorrie: British Film Critic
• Steven McGorrie: Scottish Football Manager
• Lorena McGorrie: Mexico City Painter

Other surnames

McGorrockMcGorry