He descended directly from a younger branch of the ancient family of Gurney or Gournay, which held manors in Norfolk (in the time of Henry II).
As the head of one of the first banks in the English provinces, he gained social and political influence.
One of Gurney's pursuits was archæology, as a prominent fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.
In 1848 he printed in two volumes for private circulation an elaborate Record of the House of Gournay, to which he added a supplement in 1858.
[1] Daniel Gurney died on 14 June 1880 at his seat near North Runcton, Norfolk.