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Gorlay Family History

Gorlay Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Gorley, Golay, Gourlay, Gray, Gorman, Gurley, Morley, Garay, Worley

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gorlay family from?

You can see how Gorlay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gorlay family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Gorlay families were found in USA in 1880, USA in 1920, and Scotland in 1881. In 1881 there was 1 Gorlay family living in Caithness. This was 100% of all the recorded Gorlay's in Scotland. Caithness had the highest population of Gorlay families in 1881.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gorlay 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 Gorlay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 78 census records available for the last name Gorlay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gorlay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gorlay

Passenger Lists

There are 42 immigration records available for the last name Gorlay. 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 Gorlay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3 military records available for the last name Gorlay. For the veterans among your Gorlay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gorlay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gorlay family history

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What is the average Gorlay lifespan?

Between 1985 and 1999, in the United States, Gorlay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1999, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Gorlay in 1985 was 72, and 58 in 1999.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gorlay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gorlay 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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