GUTHRIE
Guthrie is a surname of Scottish origin that can be traced back to the Gaelic-speaking north of the British Isles. The first recorded use of the name occurs in the mid‑fourteenth century, when Adam de Guthrie signed a charter granting lands to a burgess of Dundee in 1348. From that point the surname is attested throughout the historical records of Scotland.
The name is to be understood as locational in nature, deriving from the barony known as “The lands of Guthrie” in the county of Angus. The reference to Guthrie as a place continues in later documents, including the 1461 record of William de Guthrie, an Alderman of the town of Forfar, and a 1584 lease by John Gotheray of the “Kirktoun of Blair” that showcases an alternate spelling of the name. These early records confirm that the surname was firmly established within the social and administrative fabric of medieval Scotland.
According to the conventional etymology, the name is believed to have arisen from the Gaelic words gaoth meaning “wind” and ruaidh meaning “red”. The composite could therefore describe a “red wind” or serve as a descriptive nickname for a person with a red or ruddy complexion. The interpretation that the name denotes a person from a place known as the “red wind” is consistent with naming practices that linked physical attributes to geographic origins.
Historical anecdotes associated with the Guthrie family add to the depth of its legacy. One record claims that a member of the family accompanied Sir William Wallace to France in 1299. Another notes that Sir David Guthrie of Guthrie served as the armour bearer to King James I of Scotland in 1479, a testament to the family’s involvement in royal service. By the seventeenth century the clan is divided into four principal branches – Guthrie o' Guthrie; Guthrie o' Gaigie; Guthrie o' Taybank; and Guthrie o' Craigie – a division that is preserved in a contemporary rhyme.
The surname also appears in an event of significance to medical science: Samuel Guthrie, living in the early nineteenth century, was part of the group that discovered chloroform. His contribution highlights the broader impact of individuals bearing the name beyond the borders of Scotland.
Throughout its history the Guthrie name has remained intrinsically linked to the cultural and civic life of the Scottish people. From its etymological roots in Celtic language to its documented appearances in legal and royal contexts, the surname offers a rich tapestry of linguistic, social and historical threads that reflect the enduring heritage of the British Isles.
Typical given names associated with the Guthrie surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Michael
- Peter
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Anna
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jennifer
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- 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 Guthrie in...
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There are approximately 6,202 people named Guthrie in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,528th most common surname in Britain. Around 95 in a million people in Britain are named Guthrie.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Guthrie
- Charles Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank - Army officer
- Kevin Guthrie - Scottish actor
- James Guthrie - Record producer
- Savannah Guthrie - American journalist and attorney
- Woody Guthrie - American singer-songwriter and folk musician (1912 to 1967)
- Danny Guthrie - Football player
- Tyrone Guthrie - Actor and director (1900 to 1971)
- James Guthrie - Artist (1859 to 1930)
- W. K. C. Guthrie - Scottish classical scholar and philosopher (1906 to 1981)
- Kurtis Guthrie - Football player
- Malcolm Guthrie - Linguist (1903 to 1972)
- Jon Guthrie - Football player
- Donald Guthrie - Theologian (1916 to 1992)
- Thomas Anstey Guthrie - Novelist and journalist (1856 to 1934)
- Jimmie Guthrie - Motorcycle racer (1897 to 1937)
- Kathleen Guthrie - Painter (1906 to 1981)
- Allan Guthrie - Writer
- Ron Guthrie - Football player
- Chris Guthrie - Football player
- John Guthrie - Cricketer (1795 to 1865)
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.