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Gurney Family History

Gurney Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): habitational name from Gournay-en-Brai in Seine-Maritime in France.

Perhaps occasionally also a habitational name from Great Gornhay in Tiverton (Devon); see Garnsey.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Gurney family from?

You can see how Gurney families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gurney family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gurney families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 565 Gurney families living in London. This was about 19% of all the recorded Gurney's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Gurney families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gurney surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Gurney ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gurney. 9% of Gurney men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Gurney women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gurney were Gardener and Housewife.

View Census Data for Gurney | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    9%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Gardener
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Gurney family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 93,000 census records available for the last name Gurney. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gurney census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gurney

Passenger Lists

There are 9,000 immigration records available for the last name Gurney. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gurney immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Gurney. For the veterans among your Gurney ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gurney military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gurney family history

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What is the average Gurney lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Gurney life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Gurney in 1944 was 37, and 84 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gurney

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gurney ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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