Show ContentsGorie Surname History

Etymology of Gorie

What does the name Gorie mean?

The Dalriadan clans of ancient Scotland spawned the ancestors of the Gorie family. Their name comes 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

The medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English created many spelling variations of the same name. Gorie has been recorded 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

Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Gorie, or a variant listed above: 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


The Gorie Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Per mare per terras
Motto Translation: By sea and by land.


  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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