Gourlay

Gourlay (listen (help·info)) is a surname from one of the Norman families living in Scotland,[1] possibly from North or South Gorley (Hampshire) or an unidentified place in Normandy (France).[2]

## Origins of the Gourlay family[edit]

Early medieval Scottish kings received aid from Norman knights, who were granted land in Scotland in recognition of their service to the crown. Gourlay is possibly a surname from these knights and seemed to arrive in Scotland in the 12th century.[3] The earliest reference to the name is to a man known as Ingelram de Gourlay in Lothian. It is believed Ingelram de Gourlay accompanied William the Lion in 1174, and witnessed one of his charters circa 1200.[1][4]

## Variations[edit]

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gourlay, Gourley, Gorley, Gurlay, Gurley, Gourlie, Gurle, Gurleghe, Golay.

## Notable Gourlays[edit]

Notable people with the surname include:

* Andrew Gourlay, British conductor
* David Gourlay, Scottish bowls player
* Doug Gourlay (born 1929), politician in Manitoba, Canada
* Harry Gourlay (1916–1987), Scottish Labour Party politician
* Harry Gourlay (umpire) (1895–1970), New Zealand cricket umpire
* Helen Gourlay (born 1946), tennis player from Australia
* Ian Gourlay (1920–2013), British Royal Marines officer
* James Gourlay, British conductor and internationally renowned tuba soloist
* Janet Gourlay (1863–1912), Scottish Egyptologist, born in Glasgow
* Jimmy Gourlay, Scottish footballer
* John Gourlay (soccer) (1872–1949), Canadian amateur soccer player
* John Gourlay (Scottish footballer) (1879 – unknown), a Scottish footballer
* Molly Gourlay (1898–1990), British golfer who won several international championships
* Robert Gourlay (merchant) 16th-century Scottish merchant and Customar of Edinburgh
* Robert Fleming Gourlay (1778–1863), writer, moderate reformer and agriculturalist
* Ron Gourlay, the Chief Executive of Chelsea Football Club from 2009
* Scott Gourlay (born 1971), Scottish cricketer
* William Gourlay Blair (1890–1957), politician and physician

## See also[edit]

* Gourlay Brothers & Co., a shipbuilding company and shipyard in Dundee, Scotland
* Gourlay Peninsula, ice-free peninsula forming the southeast extremity of Signy Island in the South Orkney Islands
* Gourlay Point, the southernmost of three finger-like points which form the southeast end of Signy Island in the South Orkney Islands

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Gourlay Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms". HouseOfNames. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
2. ^ "Dictionary of American Family Names". 2003-01-01. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195081374.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-508137-4. `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)
3. ^ "Surname Database: Gourlay Last Name Origin". The Internet Surname Database. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
4. ^ MURRAY, JOHN (1889). The Battle Abbey roll, with some account of the Norman lineages. Vol. 2\. STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS: WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED. ISBN 9781360523217.

## External links[edit]

* "Gurley" - Surname DNA Project

Surname list

This page lists people with the surname Gourlay, Gourley, Gorley, Gurlay, Gurley, Gourlie, Gurle, Gurleghe, Golay.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.