Surname Gilbride - Meaning and Origin
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Gilbride: What does the surname Gilbride mean?
The last name Gilbride is an Irish surname, derived from the Irish Gaelic Gilbrid or Gilbriod. The name is thought to have originated as a patronymic form of the Irish personal name Gilbrid meaning "servant of Saint Bride" or “follower of St. Bridget”.
St. Bride was an early Irish nun and Christian missionary who brought Christianity to the Irish people in the 6th Century. In Irish mythology, she was known as the “Mother of the Gael” and was associated with the element of fire, making her a popular saint and an important figure in Irish culture.
The origin of the Gilbride surname may also have come from the old Irish word gulbraid, meaning "reputed hero”. This form of hero was given to individuals who demonstrated bravery and courage and is thought to have been a common form of bestowal of names in old Irish society.
The Gilbride surname is most commonly found in Muine Bheag, now known as Bagenalstown, in County Carlow, Ireland. It is thought that the original family who adopted the name likely hailed from this area and that their descendants spread out across the world as far back as the 18th century.
Today, the Gilbride surname is still found mainly in Ireland and also in other English-speaking nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The meaning of the Gilbride surname—“servant of Saint Bride” or “follower of St. Bridget" still holds true for people carrying the name, many of whom carry the torch of St. Bridget’s legacy and uphold the values that she embodied.
Order DNA origin analysisGilbride: Where does the name Gilbride come from?
The last name Gilbride is primarily of Irish origin. The majority of people with this surname are found in Ireland, with the surname ranking as the 377th most common surname in Ireland.
Today, many people with the surname Gilbride live in the United States, England, Scotland, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. In the United States, the surname is particularly popular in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and New York. It is also common in the cities of Philadelphia and Boston.
There are various possible meanings attached to Gilbride, with the most likely being an Anglicization of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Giolla Bríghde. This means “son of the servant of Saint Brigid”. Brigid was an early Christian Abbess from the 5th or 6th centuries AD, who is best known as the patron saint of Ireland.
In Scotland the surname has been spelled as Gilbride, Gilbryde, Kilbryde, and MacGillebhrighde, while in England the variations are Gilbrid, Gilburd, and Gillburt. There is also a Gilbreath variant in Scotland, as well as Gillebrid in Cornwall.
In general, Gilbride is most commonly found in countries with significant Irish and Scottish populations, such as the Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Gilbride
Gilbride is a Scottish surname, derived from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Bríde, meaning "son of the devotee of St Brendan". It was originally a clan name associated with the Hebridean island of Barra, and may have been used by families elsewhere who were gaelic-speakers. Variants of the name include Gilbride, Gilbryde, Gilbryd, MacGilbride, MacGiolla Bríde and MacGilbryde. It is also common to find the name anglicised to Kilbride.
The early spellings of the name include Mac Gillebret (from 1467), Mac Gillebrete (from 1498) and Gillibride (from 1525). In the 16th and 17th centuries the name was more commonly written as Kilbryd (with one "L"), while in the 18th and 19th centuries it was usually found as Gilbryd (with two "Ls").
Gilbride is a very rare name outside of Scotland. Even within Scotland, it is not a common one. It was primarily found in the Scottish Highlands, with most bearers of the name originating from the Hebridean island of Barra. However, it is also possible that it had spread to other areas of the country at times.
Some variants of the surname Gilbride may have also been used by some families in Ireland, particularly in Ulster, as well as by those of Ulster-Scots heritage. Additionally, the name is also found among many American families who have Scottish heritage.
Famous people with the name Gilbride
- Pat Gilbride: former American lacrosse coach and executive
- Breeann Gilbride: award-winning actress and comedian
- Luke Gilbride: Spanish actor and voice actor
- Christy Gilbride: Olympic diver
- Julie Gilbride: British field hockey international
- K.C. Gilbride- Grammy-nominated songwriter
- Karen LeFrak Gilbride: American philanthropist and arts patron
- Jim Gilbride: American hockey executive
- Joe Gilbride: former NFL coach
- Ellen Gilbride: writer and former Washington Post employee
- Patrice Gilbride: American TV Producer
- Paddy Gilbride: Irish racing driver
- Jack Gilbride: American politician
- Abbey Gilbride: Canadian figure skater
- Jody Gilbride: Canadian Olympic skier
- Sean Gilbride: American philanthropist
- John Gilbride: British artist and printmaker
- Peter Gilbride: Irish sculptor
- William Gilbride: Master of Baliol College, Oxford
- Kyle Gilbride: lead guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist for the band Swearin'