Surname Gilreath - Meaning and Origin

Gilreath: What does the surname Gilreath mean?

The last name Gilreath is of Scottish origin and is derived from the personal name Gilbred. The spelling has changed over time and various spellings of this family name include Gilbreath, Gilbreathe, Gilbreth, and Gilbreth.

Gilreath is a habitational surname, indicating a geographic origin by association with a place name. An example of this surname being used as a habitational name is when a family came from or lived near Gilbraeth or Gilbreath Castle, which was located in Renfrewshire, Scotland.

The meaning of the Gilreath surname is not known for certain. Some people believe that the name is derived from the Gaelic phrase “gille breath” meaning “servant to a stranger.” Others believe that the name is derived from the Old English words “gil” which meant “fierceness” and “breth” which meant “avalanche” or “river,” thus connoting a strong individual.

The Gilreath family crest is a black stag’s head affronte, surrounded by a silver collar with a crescent and star on each side. The crest is believed to represent strength and power.

Today, those with the last name Gilreath can be found in mostly Britain and Ireland. They have spread to other Spanish-speaking countries such as Mexico, Argentina and Peru. Those with the Gilreath surname can be found in many countries other than Britain and Ireland around the world such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and several countries in Europe.

Gilreath: Where does the name Gilreath come from?

The last name Gilreath is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 1,511 people share this surname as of 2018.

The Gilreath surname is found in the Southern region of the US, primarily in Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Georgia currently has the highest concentration of people with the Gilreath last name, with over 400 reported in 2018. This southern region is thought to be the original home of the first settlers with the Gilreath surname, dating back to at least the mid-1800s.

The genealogical research reports that the Gilreath surname may be derived from a Scottish and Irish origin, though the history of the family is still largely unknown. The modern-day spelling of Gilreath is thought to have derived from a combination of the name MacGillereath and MacShiprette. The name MacGillereath can be traced back to the eleventh century, and translates to ‘son of the servant of God.’

The surname Gilreath may have foreign roots, but the family persists and remains strong in the US today. The last name carries with it a sense of family, tradition, and honor - traits our ancestors made sure we would keep as their legacy.

Variations of the surname Gilreath

The Gilreath surname can vary in spelling and alternative surnames, depending on the particular ancestry. Alternative spellings or surnames include Gilrath, Gilraths, Gilrith, Gilriths, Gilreath, Gilreaths, Gilruth, Gilruths, Gilrath, Kilreath, and Kilrath.

Variants of the Gilreath surname may have originated when people immigrated to different countries and cultures used their own orthography and dialects in writing and speaking the surname. Historical documents such as church, census and immigration records may reveal many variations of the surname due to the fact that the record keeping scribes were often illiterate. Also differences in the language between countries may cause the surname to change as well.

Associated forms of the Gilreath surname include Kilreat and Kilredge. These forms of the surname probably stem from the Anglo-Norman name "Gilred", which is derived from the Old English words "Gerlaed" or "Giflaed". The name was originally used to denote someone "famous in battle" or "famous in good deeds".

The Gilreath surname is also commonly found in Scottish records, particularly in the region of Clydesdale. The Scottish form of the name is usually spelled Gilrider, Gilruthor, Gilruther, or Kilrider.

The variation in spelling of the Gilreath surname is found primarily in the United States, but may also be found in other countries due to the large immigration of English-speaking people during the 16th and 17th centuries. Some common variations of the surname include Gilreath, Kilreath, Gillrath, Gilrath, Kilrath, Gilreath, and others.

Famous people with the name Gilreath

• Jeff Gilreath: Major League Baseball player and coach.
• Tom Gilreath: Professional golfer on the PGA Tour.
• Jeffery Gilreath: NFL player drafted in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft.
• Daniel Gilreath: NBA player with the Charlotte Hornets.
• Richard S. Gilreath, Jr.: Lawyer whose book about the Ellicott City Maryland train disaster of 1873 was a best seller.
• Jimmy Gilreath: Second baseman from the late 1940s and 1950s.
• Dwight Gilreath: renowned pianist and composer who continues to amaze audiences today.
• Richard W. Gilreath: American civil engineer and vice president of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Eddie Gilreath: All-Ireland handball champion.
• Jessica Gilreath: Actress known for her roles in the television series House and Sense8.

Other surnames

GaalGaalayGaalenGaaleyGaalyGaarmannGabbardGabberGabbertGabeGabehartGabelGäbelGabelbergerGabeleGäbeleGäbeleinGabelenzGabelerGäbelerGabellGabelmannGabelsbergerGabeltGäbeltGabeneschGabenischGabenneschGaberle

Comments or additions to the name "Gilreath"

13.04.2024
I'm a Gilreath, and the person or persons that wrote this summary of the origin of my family surname either has information no Gilreath researcher (as far as I'm aware) has, or, as I believe is much more likely the case, simply made a great amount of it up. As much as I would like for there to be a definite meaning and origin of my family name, there simply, to the best of my knowledge, isn't one.