Surname Gillanders - Meaning and Origin
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Gillanders: What does the surname Gillanders mean?
The last name Gillanders is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the given name Gillanders, which originated from the Gaelic personal name Gille-Andras, meaning “servant of Andrew”. In Scotland, the name is a variant of the Clan MacGillanders, although the MacGillanders clan name has become primarily associated to the region of Carradale, Argyllshire.
Originally, the surname Gillanders was used by the ancient Scottish Clan MacGillanders and their descendants. It is believed that the surname can be traced to the 12th century when the Clan moved to the region of Kintyre. The group settled there and were known among their neighbours as 'the Clan Gillanders'.
The Clan MacGillanders were a prominent clan in the region of Carradale in Argyllshire. Carradale was a major port site of the area and clan members were renowned traders of herrings and other fish throughout Scotland and a certain amount of Europe.
The Clan Gillanders had holdings in both Kintyre and Argyll itself. They were part of the Clan Chattan coalition, which boasted a number of allied clans in the area, including the Macleans and the Frasers. The Clan Gillanders were also holders of a castle in the region known as the Castle Ha, which was built by the Clan Chief to cement their position as wardens of the Kintyre peninsula and the surrounding seas.
The Clan Gillanders were an important part of Scottish history, and many members of this long-standing Clan still reside in the area descended from the original Gillanders family. The surname is still used by many of the descendants of the Clan today.
Order DNA origin analysisGillanders: Where does the name Gillanders come from?
The surname Gillanders is mainly found in Scotland, although variations of it are found in other countries including England, Northern Ireland, and more recently, Canada.
The name derives from the Scottish 'Gaelic' language and is a variation of the name 'Mac Gillanders', which means 'son of the servant of Andrew'. It can be traced back to the mid-16th century, when records show that the clan Mac Gillanders was found in the area now known as Islay, off the West Coast of Scotland.
Today, the name Gillanders is primarily found in South-west Scotland, with records showing that there is a higher number of people with the name concentrated in the towns of Ayr, Girvan, and Inveraray. It is also found particularly in and around Glasgow, mainly in urban and suburban areas. In addition to this, there are many people of Scottish descent living in other parts of the world, particularly in England, Canada, and Australia, who have the surname.
Other variations of the surname include MacGillanders, McElhlanders, Macillesland, Maclelhlend, and MacGillend.
Variations of the surname Gillanders
Gillanders is an ancient Scottish surname that has many spelling variations. Common variants of this last name include Gillender, Gillonnders, Gillandres, Gillinders, Gillinderr, Gillenders, Gillondes, Collanders and Gillanders. Many of these surnames are derived from old Scottish surnames that have since evolved and been passed down from generation to generation.
In some cases, the name may have been spelled differently due to the interpreter's or writer's accent. For example, the name "Gillanders" may be pronounced as "Gillonders" or "Gillondes" in some regions.
Another way that this surname can vary is by the geographic location from which it originates. In some areas, variants of "Gillanders" can include “Gillanor” or “Gillaner”. In parts of Scotland, the surname may even be spelled as "Gillanderss", "Gillandersson" or "Gillanderses".
In addition, some variants of this ancient surname are derived from a patronymic, meaning ‘son of’ or ‘descendant of’ a certain ancestor. These variations of the name may include "Gillanderson", "Gillandersson", or "Gillandersson".
There is also evidence that people connected to the clan may have adopted one of these variations or a variation of their own in order to distinguish themselves from other families with the same surname.
In conclusion, the ancient Scottish surname "Gillanders" has many variants, spellings and surnames derived from it. As the name has been passed down from generations, more variations have been added to the list, giving this last name even more unique variations of spellings and surnames.
Famous people with the name Gillanders
- Elliott Gillanders: British politician (Member of Parliament for Torridge and West Devon).
- Fergus Gillanders: Scottish Gaelic poet.
- Jock Gillanders: rugby union player for Scotland.
- John Gillanders: Australian radio commentator and sports show host.
- Linda Gillanders: Scottish politician (Member of the Scottish Parliament).
- Malcolm Gillanders: English cricketer.
- Michael Gillanders: Scottish actor, known for Outlander, My Name is Earl and The Bill.
- Nancy Gillanders: American lawyer and judge.
- Norman Gillanders: Scottish photographer and cinematographer.
- Ross Gillanders: British Richmond Park politician, Parliamentary candidate in 2019.