Surname Gillinghad - Meaning and Origin
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Gillinghad: What does the surname Gillinghad mean?
The surname Gillinghad is a habitational name, which means it was originally taken on by people who lived in a place or village that had the same name. It is derived from a place or location in Norfolk, England known as Gillinhad. The name of the village is thought to have originated from an Old English personal name, 'Gyllinga', which over-time became corrupted to 'Gillen', before finally becoming 'Gillinhad'.
Although there are still some people with the last name living today, records regarding the Gillinghad family do not extend back far in history, making it a relatively unknown name. It is possible that the name is a variant of the many commonly found Anglo-Saxon last names beginning with ‘Gil’ in areas around Norfolk.
Overall, the exact meaning of the surname ‘Gillinghad’ is not definitively known. It is likely to have originated from the village 'Gillinhad', however the origin of this remains uncertain.
Despite its lack of history, the surname Gillinghad is still found today in England, Australia, The United States of America and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisGillinghad: Where does the name Gillinghad come from?
Gillinghad is an English surname derived from Gillingshead, which is a spelling variant of Gillingashead, a village in Cumbria, England. The name is mainly found in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the United Kingdom, the name is most prevalent in Yorkshire, England. Yorkshire is an ancient county in Northern England and the name is first recorded in the area in the mid-13th century. In the twentieth century, the surname Gillinghad is still found frequently in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas.
In the United States, the name is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, where it is first recorded in the nineteenth century and continues to be found throughout the state. In Canada, the surname is found mainly in Ontario. Australia and New Zealand have some records of Gillinghad, but it is not as widespread as in the United Kingdom or the United States.
Overall, Gillinghad is still an active surname today and is found most often in its places of origin in the United Kingdom and United States.
Variations of the surname Gillinghad
Gillinghad is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from a place name near the River Wear in the former county of Durham. Although there are no known variants or spellings of Gillinghad, it can be found in some records with the variation Gillingwood. It likely comes from the Old English "gilling", meaning "riverbank".
Surnames of similar origins include Gillingham, Gilham, Gillham, Gilhams, Gilhooley, and Gillingwater. All of these surnames would have been derived from place names near a river. Variations of Gillingham include Gilleham, Gillham, Gilgarth, Gilgham, and Gilliar.
Other surnames of the same origin include Gillings, Gillins, Gillingsworth, and Gilhooly. Gillingworth is derived from the Old English “wurt” (en enclosure) and the first element “gilling” (river). Gilhooly derives from the Irish Gilghaothigh, meaning “servant of a stranger”, while Gillings is derived from the Old English “ing” meaning “meadow”.
Although these surnames share similar origins, Gillingham is the most recognisable as a geographic location. It is a port town on the River Thames, located in the County of Kent, in South East England. It has been continuously occupied since at least the Iron Age and has a rich history, which has played a major role in the development of the Gillingham surname.
Famous people with the name Gillinghad
- Amy Gillingham: actress and singer, best known for roles in TV series “Glee” and “Orange is the New Black”
- Reese Gillingham: former soccer player for the US National Team
- Meg C. Gillingham: known for her involvement in women's rights activism
- Stephen Gillingham: renowned British sculptor
- Gail Gillingham: human resource professor and author
- Tom Gillingham: former NRL player
- David Gillingham: American composer, professor, and conductor
- Arthur Gillingham: political advisor and lawyer
- Brock Gillingham: former professional WWE wrestler
- Leslie Gillingham: Royal Air Force chief executive