Surname Gillan - Meaning and Origin

Gillan: What does the surname Gillan mean?

The last name Gillan is an Irish and Scottish surname of Gaelic origin. The translation of the name means “servant of St. John”. The name is believed to have been derived from the personal named Philip Gilan, a Norman knight affiliated with the church.

The last name Gillan also found its way to England in the 16th century when it was created by immigrants from Scotland and Ireland. They brought with them a cultural and language heritage that persists even today.

Gillan is one of the most common surnames in the United Kingdom, where it is found mainly in the area of Yorkshire and in the city of London. In the United States, the last name Gillan is more prevalent in the Midwest and mountain states.

The name Gillan is often used as a commitment to a person’s faith or religious beliefs. It denotes to be a devout follower of Christianity and a person who is willing to serve their God.

Those with the last name Gillan are often seen as having strong determination and resilience. These traits are often associated with the intense devotion required to serve one’s God and cause, and have helped the name to achieve distinction in many areas. Those with the last name are often known for their high level of responsibility and dependability, as well as their service to society.

Gillan: Where does the name Gillan come from?

The surname Gillan is most commonly found in Scotland and Ireland, though there are some occurrences of the name in the United States and Canada as well.

In Scotland, officials have recorded more than 25,000 people with the surname Gillan, as of 2019. The vast majority of those with the name can be found in the eastern half of the country, particularly in and around the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. However, Gillan is also seen in the Highlands and Borders regions, as well as in the Republic of Ireland.

In the United States, the 2000 U.S. census counted more than 1,000 people with the last name Gillan. About half of them lived in Pennsylvania, but there were also concentrations of Gillans in California, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, and other states. In Canada, the majority of the 1,300 people with the surname Gillan lived in Ontario and British Columbia.

It's likely that the origin of the surname Gillan lies in Scotland, with an adaptation of the Gaelic personal name "Giolla Dionn", which translates to "servant of St. Denys". Interestingly enough, the name itself appears to have originated with Norse invaders -- a sign of the long history of Scotland's cultural influences. No matter the origin, though, it's clear that while the Gillan surname is relatively rare, a good number of people still bear it.

Variations of the surname Gillan

The surname Gillan is a variant of the Irish Gaelic name Mac Giolla Fhionnain, which translates to "son of the fair-haired servant." The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for this surname include Gillen, Gillon, Gillion, Gilen, Glyn, Glynn, Glynnne, Glynne, Glin, Glinn, Gollan, Goolan, Guillan, Gilhan, Gilin, Gillin, Gillan, Golan, Golland, Gollands, Gollins, Gollyn, Gilan, Giallon, Gialon, Giolan, Glan, Glinne, Glinn, Glonn, Glen, Glynne, Gollin, Gollyns, Gwilliam, Gulian, Gwilin and MacGillan.

Gillen is one of the most common derivatives of this name. It is derived from the old Irish personal name Ó Giolláin and emerged in anglicised form after the 12th century, when Norman settlers introduced the Latin language and its Norman-French influences. In some instances, Gillen can be traced to the Irish county of Tipperary, however its Irish origin is largely uncertain.

Glyn and Glynn, another derivative, is derived from the Irish personal name Ó Glionn, which in turn, is derived from the Old Irish word glinn, meaning ‘valley’ or ‘nook.’ This surname was first recorded in 1125 as ‘Gled’ in County Herefordshire and spread throughout Wales and England, and in some cases, Scotland, during the Middle Ages.

Gilan is another variant which is derived from the name Gílláirn, a diminutive of the Old Irish personal name Gilard, which is composed of two elements, ‘giall,’ meaning ‘loyalty’ or ‘pledge,’ and ‘ard,’ meaning ‘hardy’ or ‘strong’ in Old Irish.

MacGillan, meanwhile, is the Irish derivation of the name, which is derived from the Old Irish personal name Mac Giolla Fhionnain, which translates to ‘son of the fair-haired servant.’ It is thought to have originated in Ireland sometime in the 12th century. The MacGillan name is most widely found in the Ulster provinces of Ireland but is also found in Scotland, Wales, and England.

Famous people with the name Gillan

• Karen Gillan: Scottish actress, best known for playing Amy Pond in the BBC series Doctor Who
• John Gillan: Irish-born American actor, comedian, singer, and producer from the early 20th century
• Bob Gillan: Former professional footballer who played for various clubs, including Torquay United and Colchester United
• Gareth Gillan: Welsh cricketer who has represented Glamorgan since 2002
• Maureen Gillan: Irish singer, songwriter, and actress
• Naomhán Gillan: Scottish singer-songwriter
• Finlay Gillan: Scotland rugby union player who represented Dundee HSFP
• Bobbie Gillan: Scottish former field hockey midfielder who played for East Grinstead
• David Gillan: British actor who appeared in films such as Shirley Valentine and Final Cut
• Austin Gillan: American film and television actor
• Johnny Gillan: Lead singer of the band The Merseybeats
• Carolyn Gillan: Broadway actress and radio, TV, and voice over artist
• Sammy Gillan: Scottish professional footballer who is now the team manager of Lanark United
• Tom Gillan: Popular motor racing driver who raced in the World Endurance Championship
• Murphy Gillan: Canadian sport pilot and former member of the Royal Canadian Air Force
• Liz Gillan: Scottish burial ground historian and writer
• John David Gillan: United States Army veteran who has been awarded several medals including a Purple Heart.

Other surnames

GillandGillanderGillandersGillaspieGillatt