Gurney
An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "grain farm" or "granary."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,278 Americans carry the last name Gurney. That puts it at #7,336 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.54 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 64,940 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gurney surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.3K
1 in 64,940
Census rank
#7,336
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,547 bearers of the surname Gurney in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.54 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7336th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gurney, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Black (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gurney
The surname Gurney originates from the Anglo-Norman French word "gournet" meaning a fish pond or small stream. It is believed to have first emerged in England during the Norman conquest of 1066. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gornai" in Oxfordshire.
The Gurney family initially settled in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia. Over time, variations in spelling emerged, including Gornay, Gournay, and Gurnard. One notable early bearer of the name was Hugh de Gournay, who was appointed Lord of Gournay in the 12th century.
In the 13th century, records show a Sir Thomas de Gournay serving as a knight in the retinue of King Edward I during the Scottish Wars of Independence. His son, also named Thomas de Gournay, fought alongside Edward III at the Battle of Crécy in 1346.
The name Gurney can also be found associated with several place names in Norfolk, such as Gurney Street and Gurney Court in Norwich. This suggests that the family may have held significant landholdings in the region.
One of the most famous bearers of the Gurney surname was Joseph John Gurney (1788-1847), a prominent Quaker banker and philanthropist. He was instrumental in campaigning for the abolition of slavery and improving prison conditions in Britain.
Another notable figure was Goldsworthy Gurney (1793-1875), an English scientist and inventor. He is credited with developing the first commercial steam-powered road vehicle, known as the Gurney Steam Carriage, in the 1820s.
In the literary world, Edmund Gurney (1847-1888) was an English psychologist and co-founder of the Society for Psychical Research. He conducted pioneering research into hypnosis, telepathy, and other paranormal phenomena.
Lastly, Sir Henry Gurney (1888-1951) was a British colonial administrator who served as High Commissioner of the Malay States and Governor of the Straits Settlements in the 1940s.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gurney
Among Census respondents with the surname Gurney, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Black (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Gurney bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Gurney surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Black or African American1.4%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Gurney surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,149 | #7,336 | -2.6% |
| Count | 4,311 | 4,547 | 5.5% |
| Per 100K | 1.60 | 1.54 | -3.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Gurney bearers went from 4,311 to 4,547 (+5.5% change). The surname moved down 187 positions in the national ranking, going from #7,149 to #7,336.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Gurney
FAQ
Gurney surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Gurney?
The surname Gurney holds position #7,336 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,278 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.54 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Gurney surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gurney, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Black (1.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.