Find out how popular the last name Goree is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Goree.

Goree, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Goree surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goree in America

Goree is the 10440th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goree surname appeared 3,081 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Goree.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goree to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Goree

The surname GOREE originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "gorer," which means "to pierce" or "to gore." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with a profession or occupation related to hunting or warfare.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GOREE can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Godefridus Gorer, whose name likely evolved into the modern spelling of GOREE over time.

During the 12th century, the GOREE surname appeared in various historical records across Normandy and northern France. One notable individual was Guillaume Goree, a nobleman and knight who fought alongside Richard the Lionheart in the Third Crusade (1189-1192).

In the 14th century, the GOREE family established themselves in the region of Brittany, where they owned lands and properties. Jean Goree (c. 1320-1387) was a prominent member of the family and served as a trusted advisor to the Duke of Brittany.

As the GOREE name spread throughout Europe, it also evolved into different spellings and variations. In England, for instance, the name was sometimes spelled as Gorry, Gory, or Gorrie. In Scotland, the surname took the form of Gorie or Gorrie.

One of the most famous individuals with the GOREE surname was Sir Edmund Goree (1582-1657), an English naval officer and explorer who commanded several expeditions to the West Indies and the Americas during the early 17th century. He played a significant role in establishing English settlements in the Caribbean.

Another notable figure was John Goree (1701-1778), a French-born military officer who served in the British Army and became the first lieutenant governor of Grenada after the island was captured by the British in 1762.

Closer to modern times, Joseph Goree (1809-1885) was an American soldier and surveyor who served in the Texas Revolution and later became a prominent figure in the early days of the Republic of Texas.

Throughout its history, the GOREE surname has been associated with various professions, including military service, exploration, and land ownership. Its origins can be traced back to medieval France, where it likely emerged as an occupational name related to hunting or warfare.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goree

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Goree.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Goree was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Goree has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Goree was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Goree, please contact us.

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