Gowrie

This Scottish surname also recorded as Gowrie, Garry and Gorrie is locational. This is unusual in itself in that Celtic, like Gaelic surnames are rarely locational, being overwhelmingly patronymic. The 'Carse of Gowrie' is a strip of land running between the River Tay and Dundee in Perthshire. Approximately fifteen miles long, and dead flat, 'the Gowrie' is one of the most fertile areas in the country. Curiously the more popular spelling form is 'Gorrie', whilst 'Garrie' is rare indeed which is perhaps not surprising when one John Garrie was arrested in Aberdeen in 1552 charged with aiding the English! It is claimed that the Gorries of Perthshire descend from Macgorries who mysteriously arrived in the district some 400 years ago, and settled in the neighbourhood of Logie Almond. However the most realistic explanation is that they have always been there. In that respect early recordings in the various name spellings include William Gorrie, who in 1642 was charged with 'imprisoning John McAgo wrongfully', whilst in 1682 Thomas Gorrie was the captain of the watch at Logiealmond. This 'watch', it is claimed, was the oldest official Highland regiment. Other recordings are those of Marjorie Gowrie, who married William Miller at Errol, Perthshire on May 29th 1669. This was one month before her brother John Gowrie, who married Agnes Duncan also at Errol, on June 26th 1669. On September 10th 1749, Ann Gowrie the daughter of Thomas and Mary (nee Smith) Gowrie, was christened at Edinburgh Parish church. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Andrew Gorry, which was dated 1631, recorded in the parish of Caterlinge, Perthshire, during the reign of King Charles 1st of England and Scotland, 1625 - 1649. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.