Surname Gillespie - Meaning and Origin

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G. Gillespie

Gillespie: What does the surname Gillespie mean?

The last name Gillespie is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic personal name Gille Easbaig, which means "servant of the bishop." The name is an occupational one, referring to someone who served in a bishop's household or performed duties on behalf of the bishop. Over time, as surnames became hereditary, children adopted their father's occupation as their last name, perpetuating the name Gillespie in subsequent generations. Like many Scottish surnames, Gillespie was also transferred to Ireland with the Scottish immigrants during the period of the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century. Thus, the last name Gillespie can be found in both Scotland and Ireland to this day.

Gillespie: Where does the name Gillespie come from?

The surname Gillespie originates from Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Gille Easbuig', meaning 'son of the bishop's servant'. The phonetic translation of these Gaelic words ended up forming the now modern last name "Gillespie".

In its early days, the Gillespie surname was associated with the Scottish clan system, prevalent amongst Gaelic societies, thus making its mark in the Scottish Highlands. Over time, due to migration and the Scottish diaspora, primarily because of the Highland Clearances in the 18th century, the surname spread across different parts of the world.

Today, the Gillespie surname is common in countries that received significant Scottish and Irish immigrants, especially the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the greatest concentration of Gillespies is still found in Scotland, particularly in the areas of Perthshire and Ross & Cromarty. The name is also well represented in Ireland due to the historical connections between Scotland and Ireland.

Variations of the surname Gillespie

The surname Gillespie is primarily associated with Scottish and Irish origin. Although spelling variations of Gillespie were uncommon in medieval Scotland, some have occurred over time. Variants and alternative spellings include Gillaspie, Gillaspy, Gillispey, Gillespy, Gillies, Gilespie and Gillis, among others.

In terms of its origin, the surname Gillespie comes from the Gaelic elements "gille" meaning "servant" and "Easbuig", an ecclesiastical term for "bishop". Therefore, the name originally denoted a servant of the bishop.

Furthermore, other surnames that may be related to Gillespie due to their similar phonetic sound or shared root words can also include MacGillespie, MacGillespick, and McGuillespie, which stem from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Easpaig". These variants primarily state 'son of the bishop's servant'.

It is important to note that variations in spelling could be due to various factors such as the transliteration of Gaelic into English, regional dialectical differences, or even simple clerical errors. Therefore, it’s possible one may encounter individuals bearing these names with some variation in spelling or pronunciation.

Famous people with the name Gillespie

• Dizzy Gillespie: An influential American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and singer.
• Bobby Gillespie: A Scottish musician and singer-songwriter, known for being the lead singer of the rock band Primal Scream.
• William Gillespie: An American actor who was known for his work in silent comedy films.
• Haven Gillespie: An American Tin Pan Alley composer and lyricist who is perhaps best remembered for the Christmas song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."
• Dana Gillespie: An English actress, singer, songwriter, and film producer.
• Althea Gillespie: An American actress who has had a long career on stage and in film and television.
• Dennis Gillespie: A former professional footballer and manager from Scotland.
• Elizabeth Gillespie McRae: An American author and academic known for her works on women's roles in the Civil Rights Movement.
• John Gillespie: An American financial commentator, author, and founder of a multimillion-dollar wine business.
• Sir Robert Gillespie: A notable British Army general who served in various campaigns during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
• Vincent Gillespie: A British academic, specializing in the study of medieval English literature and religious history.
• Aaron Gillespie: American musician, known as the drummer and clean vocalist for the metalcore band Underoath.

Other surnames

Gillespey