Surname Gillin - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Gillin: What does the surname Gillin mean?
The last name Gillin is derived from two possibilities. The first possibility is that it is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic names MacGiolla Fhiona, which translates to "son of the servant of (the god) Fionn". The second possibility is that it is a derivation of the Gaelic Ó Giollain, which can be translated to "descendant of Giollan".
Giollan was an ancient Gaelic first name that derived from the Irish word "giolla", meaning "youth" or "follower". As the patronymic naming system was popular in Gaelic culture, it is likely that the surname began as a way to identify a person's ancestry.
The name Gillin originated during the Middle Ages in Ireland and Scotland. It quickly spread down the east coast of North America in the 18th and 19th centuries after the Protestant Scots-Irish migrated. The surname is most strongly concentrated in Ireland and Northern England, with people bearing this name living across all of the United Kingdom, and scattered in small numbers around the world.
Overall, the name Gillin is a testament to the rich history of the Gaelic culture, and the remarkable migrations in search of a better life.
Order DNA origin analysisGillin: Where does the name Gillin come from?
The last name Gillin is of Irish origin. It is most commonly found in the Irish province of Ulster and the northern part of the Republic of Ireland. It is also sometimes seen in Northern England, notably in Cumbria and Yorkshire, and parts of Scotland.
Gillin is a common name in many small towns and villages across the British Isles, particularly in Ireland. The meaning of the name is unclear, but it is believed to be related to the Irish Gaelic term giolla, meaning a young lad or servant.
Gillin is one of the most frequently recorded surnames in Ireland. According to the General Register Office in Ireland, there were over 700 occurrences of the surname Gillin in the 1911 national census. The most common variants of the name are Gillan, Gillon, and Gillen.
The name Gillin is also well known in the United States. It first appeared in the 1880 US Census, mainly in New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois. By the 1930 US Census, Gillins were present in several other states and had spread to the West Coast.
Today, Gillin remains a relatively common surname in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It is especially prevalent in counties Donegal and Tyrone in Ireland, and the states of Pennsylvania and New York in the United States.
Variations of the surname Gillin
The variant spellings and surnames of Gillin are Gilin, Gillan, Gillen, Gillon, Gillin, Gillon, Gillson and Gilling.
Gillin is derived from the pre-7th century personal name Gilian, and is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Gilian". The personal name Gilian is derived from the old French given name Gille, which was itself derived from the Latin name Giletus. Giletus was originally a diminutive of Julius, from Julius Caesar being elected "Dictator for Life".
The surname started to be found in records as early as 1154 when Christianus filius Gillen was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Wiltshire in England. During the reign of King Edward I, the personal tax rolls, known as the Subsidy Rolls, recorded people in each county who paid a tax based on their wealth, and among the earliest listings was Elias filius Gilleni in Suffolk, in 1298. The name Gillen also appeared in the Monastic Rolls of Scotland in 1363 when William Gylin, burgess of Edinburgh, was made a burgess of Aberdeen.
Gillin is an old Anglo-Saxon surname. It is a locational name from a place called Gillon in the county of Wiltshire, England. Early recorded spelling of the family name includes Gillon, which existed in the year 1217, and Gillen circa 1272. Variants of the surname include Gilin, Gillan, Gillen, Gillon, Gillin, Gillon, Gillson and Gilling. Other English forms of the surname include Gilline, Gillines, Gillett, Gillespie, Giollamhuire and Gillum.
Famous people with the name Gillin
- Christopher Gillin: Australian actor
- James Gillin: Irish professional footballer
- Anne M. Gillin: author and psychoanalyst
- Cheryl Gillin: British entomologist
- Paul Gillin: American writer and journalist
- Steve Gillin: English table tennis player
- Patrick Gillin: Canadian mathematics professor
- Steve Gillin: Canadian journalist
- Stuart Gillin: South African former cricketer
- Graham Gillin: British film director
- Sandy Gillin: Scottish rugby union player
- Richard Gillin: Australian diplomat
- Suzanne Gillin: American writer
- Chris Gillin: English soccer player
- Mick Gillin: Australian former governor
- Michael Gillin: American biophysicist
- Rob Gillin: Scottish football player
- Patti Gillin: Texas state senator
- Jack Gillin: Canadian Olympic fencer
- Charlotte Gillin: Australian opera singer