The name Gurney is of Norman origin, derived from the Old French word 'gournay', which refers to a small stream or brook. It was introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest in 1066 and has since been associated with several notable families in British history. The name was traditionally given as a surname but is now also used as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries.
The name Gurney experienced varied popularity throughout the late 19th to mid-20th century. The highest number of births recorded was 23 in 1924, while the lowest was 5, occurring nine times across several years. There's a notable peak in the early 1920s and another around World War II, with 20 or more births each year from 1941 to 1947. After the 1950s, the name's popularity significantly decreased, with single-digit occurrences becoming more frequent. Overall, there were 790 recorded births of the name Gurney over this period.