This interesting surname of English origin is a metathesized form of Gondri, Gundric, an Old French personal name introduced to Britain by the Normans. It is composed of the Germanic elements "gund" meaning "battle" plus "ric" "power". The surname dates back to the late 13th Century, (see below). Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Gundrey, Goundry, Grundy, etc.. Maria, daughter of Willmi Gundrie was christened on January 27th 1578, at St. Andrew, Enfield, and Thomas Gundrey married Mary Orm on September 14th 1618, at St. Mary Mounthaw, London. Thomas, son of Thomas and Mary Gundry, was christened at St. Bartholomew the Great, London, on January 15th 1621. Sir Nathaniel Gundry (1701-1754) was a judge. He became barrister of Middle Temple, 1725, an M.P. of Dorchester, 1741-1750, K.C. in 1742, judge of common pleas 1750-1754. He died of gaol fever. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Gundrey, which was dated 1296, in the "Pipe Rolls of Sussex", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1327. 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.

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