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Gourlay Family History

Gourlay Surname Meaning

Scottish and English (of Norman origin): variant of Gourley.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gourlay family from?

You can see how Gourlay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gourlay family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gourlay families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 34 Gourlay families living in London. This was about 22% of all the recorded Gourlay's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Gourlay families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gourlay 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 Gourlay ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Cowman and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gourlay. 28% of Gourlay men worked as a Cowman and 81% of Gourlay women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gourlay were Retired and Wages Clerk (aircraft).

View Census Data for Gourlay | 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

  • Cowman
    28%
  • Iron Moulder
    19%
  • Doctor M B Ch B
    19%
  • Retired
    19%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Wages Clerk (aircraft)
    3%

What Gourlay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 26,000 census records available for the last name Gourlay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gourlay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gourlay

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Gourlay. 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 Gourlay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Gourlay. For the veterans among your Gourlay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gourlay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gourlay family history

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What is the average Gourlay lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Gourlay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 1973. The average life expectancy for Gourlay in 1950 was 47, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gourlay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gourlay 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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