Surname Gillingham - Meaning and Origin
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Gillingham: What does the surname Gillingham mean?
Gillingham is an English surname that is locational in origin, deriving from a place-name in Kent or Dorset, England. The name Gillingham comes from the Old English terms "gyl/ing" and "ham", meaning 'homestead or settlement of Gylla's people' or 'a place where people scream’. This surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin and was generally used to describe a person who lived in or near the town of Gillingham. While it's predominantly found among people of British descent, waves of immigration have resulted in the presence of this surname in various parts of the world as well. Over centuries, the surname has developed into various spellings. Nonetheless, irrespective of the many forms, the central meaning remains tied to its geographical and Old English roots.
Order DNA origin analysisGillingham: Where does the name Gillingham come from?
The surname Gillingham is of English origin, derived from a place name in the county of Kent and another in Dorset. The name is broken down into two old English words, "gylinc" and "ham," which mean "place of the people associated with Gylla." The first recorded spelling of the family name dates back to the 12th century. The name was typically given to someone originally from either of these towns.
Today, the surname Gillingham is common in the United Kingdom, predominantly in the areas that coincide with its origins, that is, Kent and Dorset. Additionally, due to historic emigration patterns, this surname can also be found in other English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, albeit less frequently. Over the years, different spellings of the name have emerged, like Gillam, Gilham, Gilling etc., influenced by regional dialects and language evolution. Nevertheless, the distribution of the surname remains relatively concentrated in the areas of its original inception.
Variations of the surname Gillingham
The surname Gillingham has several variants that are commonly seen due to differences in geographical region and language. Some of these include Gilling, Gillham, Gillam, Gilliam, Gillyam, Gyllingham, Gylling, Jillingham, Gilligan, and Gellhorn.
Gillingham is an English surname of locational origin, associated with places in Norfolk and Kent in the United Kingdom. These places were initially spelled as "Gellingeham" in the Domesday Book of 1086, then eventually modified to the current spelling.
The name can be split into two parts: 'Gilling' and 'ham'. The first part ‘Gilling’ could have been derived from an Old English personal name ‘Gylla’ while 'ham' is an Old English term meaning 'homestead'.
Interestingly, the surname Gillingham is often confused with or misspelled as Gilligan, which is actually of Irish origin, not English. The surnames Gillam or Gilliam are variations most commonly found in the United States, due to spelling changes that occurred when English immigrants arrived.
The Spanish equivalent to Gillingham is likely Gillinghama or Gillingammo. As Gillingham is primarily an English name, it is unlikely to have variations in different languages, aside from phonetic translations or alterations when written in non-Latin script.
Famous people with the name Gillingham
- Josh Gillingham, Canadian ice hockey player
- Bill Gillingham, American painter and illustrator
- Damian Gillingham, British World Cup-winning rugby player
- Freddie Gillingham, English footballer
- Matt Gillingham, American actor
- Persis Gillingham, American painter
- Tommy Gillingham, Canadian actor and director
- David Gillingham, American composer
- Sam Gillingham, English professional artist
- Roger Gillingham, English computer scientist