COMRIE
Comrie is a surname of strictly Scottish origin, first recorded in the early sixteenth century in the county of Perthshire. The name derives from the village of Comrie, itself situated in the valley of a river. The toponym is thought to originate from the Gaelic word comarach, meaning “confluence” or “meeting place”, a reference to the river meeting there.
The earliest surviving documents relating to the name appear in a royal charter of 1447, in which a John de Cumre is named as holder of the lands of Comrie. A second charter dated 1475 records the name as John Combry. By 1673 the spelling had settled into the modern form, with a John Comrie again recognised as the lawful owner of those lands. The rise of the MacGregor clan to outlaw status in 1613 led some members to settle in the village of Comrie; a number of them adopted the surnames of their new home. Whether any of the contemporary bearers of the name reverted to the MacGregor surname after the clan was restored in 1780 remains uncertain.
Other textual traditions propose an alternative Gaelic background, citing the phrase Cuimridh, translated as “born to greatness”. In the Middle Ages the name was sometimes bestowed upon sons of the eight principal clans of that era. This association confers upon the name a reputation for gentility, courtesy and a strong work ethic.
In the early twentieth century the General Register Office for Scotland recorded Comrie as the thirty‑fourth most common surname in the country, with 2,633 individuals listed in 1936. Subsequent surveys show a shift in the name’s distribution: in 2015 it was ranked as the eighty‑first most common surname in Northern Ireland, while in England it occupied the two‑hundred‑fifty‑third position – a decline of five places since 2001. The surname remains comparatively prominent in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with a smaller but still noticeable presence across the rest of the United Kingdom.
Variants of the surname are numerous. The most frequently encountered spellings are Comery, Comer, Comra, Cummrie, Cumry, Cumerie, Cumrey, Cumrie and Cumrye. Alternative forms such as Comrie, Comar, Comory, Comrey, Comrie, Cogry, Commary and Commarye also appear in records. Related surnames developed from the same root include Connery, Connary, Komerey, Cormy and Cummary.
Several individuals of note have borne the surname. Reverend Doctor Alexander Comrie, a pioneer in brewing and distilling during the twentieth century, is credited with advancing the quality of ale and leaving a lasting technological legacy. Contemporary bearers include the Canadian entertainer Colin Comrie and the Scottish-born actress Siobhan Redmond. These personalities illustrate the continuing contributions of individuals with the name to culture and industry.
The Comrie surname carries a legacy marked by strength, dependability and loyalty. Throughout its history, bearers of the name have been celebrated for their courteous manner and steadfast dedication to community. The name remains a point of pride for many in Scotland and Northern Ireland, echoing a heritage that values perseverance, honour and familial bonds.
Typical given names associated with the Comrie surname
Male
- Alexander
- Andrew
- Daniel
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Kevin
- Lancelot
- Peter
- Robert
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Janet
- Louise
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Patricia
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Comrie in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 874 people named Comrie in the UK. That makes it roughly the 8,192nd most common surname in Britain. Around 13 in a million people in Britain are named Comrie.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Comrie
- Bernard Comrie - Linguist
- Elvis Comrie - Football player and manager
- James Comrie - Scottish football player (1881 to 1916)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.