Surname Gillespey - Meaning and Origin

Gillespey: What does the surname Gillespey mean?

The last name Gillespey is a variant of Gillespie, a traditional Scottish surname with Gaelic origins. It's derived from the Gaelic words "gille" and "asbuig", which literally translate to "servant of the bishop." Over time, this term evolved into a surname, signifying a familial or ancestral connection to religious service or an ecclesiastical lineage. In the Gaelic culture, patronymic surnames often embodied an individual's role within their community or denoted kinship ties. In this spirit, Gillespey may signify an individual's descendants as originating from a paternal figure who served the church or was closely associated with a bishop. However, the interpretation can slightly differ based on geographical locations and historical contexts. Like with many surnames, the spelling has seen several variations across countries and centuries, and Gillespey is one such variant. In modern days, the surname has spread worldwide due to migration and cultural dissemination.

Gillespey: Where does the name Gillespey come from?

The surname Gillespey is of Scottish origin and is largely found in the North of Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic name Gilleasbuig, which means 'servant of the bishop'. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Fergus Mac Gillespie, dated 1296, who was a Scottish cleric.

In the Middle Ages, a lot of families in Scotland adopted their hereditary surnames. They did so either because of prevailing naming traditions or the need for a legal identity. During these times, Scottish territories were divided among the Clans, and the surname Gillespey belongs to the district of Galloway.

Today, it's still fairly prevalent in Scotland but has also spread to other parts of the world due to emigration. Notably, it can be found in areas like the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is important to highlight that over the centuries, the surname's spelling has seen a lot of variations, such as Gillespie, Gillaspy, Gillaspie, Gilasbey, and many others.

Variations of the surname Gillespey

The surname Gillespey potentially has both Scottish and Irish origins. It is a variant of the popular surname Gillespie, which itself is an anglicized form of the Gaelic names Mac Giolla Easpaig (Scottish) and Mac Giolla Easpuig (Irish), both meaning “son of the bishop's servant.”

Depending on geographical location and language influence, this surname has been spelled and transformed in many different ways over time. Variations in spelling include Gillaspy, Gillaspey, Gillispie, Gillispy, Gilespy, Gilleasbuig, Gilleasbaig, Gileasbaig, Gilaspy, and Gilespie. Each variation has the same root and similar meanings.

In addition, there are also variants such as Gillespa, MacGillespick, MacGillespie, and MacGillespy that result from the addition of the patronymic prefix “Mac,” meaning “son of.”

It's also important to note that due to the complexity of the Gaelic language, a single name can be spelled numerous ways, and surnames would often change spelling even within a single document, making certified variations difficult to trace.

Finally, there may be related surnames that have evolved separately but share the same root, such as Easpaig or Espaig, though their relation to Gillespey would require more detailed genealogical research to confirm.

Famous people with the name Gillespey

• Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993): An American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, singer, and composer, known for his outrageously bent trumpet pieces and iconic stage presence.
• Brad Gillespey (b. 1978): An American professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the current head coach for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
• Herb Gillespey (1903-1991): A former basketball player and coach, he was the head coach at Fordham University from 1946 to 1968.
• Murray Gillespey (1906-1974): A former Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
• Russell Gillespey (b. 1982): A former Canadian football defensive back who most recently played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
• Erich Gillespey (1917-1987): A former Austrian bobsledder who competed in the late 1930s and early 1940s and was the 1948 Olympic gold medallist in the four-man event.
• Peggy Gillespey (b. 1951): An American actress best known for her roles in the television series M*A*S*H, the Cold Case Files, and Diagnosis: Murder.
• George Gillespey (1917-2006): An African American radio personality who hosted "Gillespey and Friends" from 1952 until his retirement in 1987.
• Warren Gillespey (1929-2006): A professional baseball player who played briefly in the Major Leagues for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1952.

Other surnames

Gillespie