Show ContentsGilbank History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Gilbank family

The surname Gilbank was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1489 when Thomas Gylbank held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Gilbank family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gilbank research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487 and 1525 are included under the topic Early Gilbank History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gilbank Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gilbank, Gillbanks, Gillbank, Gylbank, Gyllbanks and others.

Early Notables of the Gilbank family

More information is included under the topic Early Gilbank Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Gilbank migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gilbank Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Gilbank, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 20th January 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Gilbank (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Gilbank Ackland (1791-1844), English divine educated at the Charterhouse and St. John's College, Cambridge 2


The Gilbank Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Honore et virtute
Motto Translation: With honor and virtue.


  1. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
  2. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 17 Apr. 2019


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