Gilcrease History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe chronicle of the name Gilcrease begins with a family in the Pictish clans of ancient Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic name Gille Criosd, which became Gillacrist in Middle Gaelic. The name literally means "servant of Christ." 1 Early Origins of the Gilcrease familyThe surname Gilcrease was first found in Berwickshire where the first records of the family were as a forename. "Gillecrist mac Finguni and Gillecrist mac Cormaic are witnesses to Gaelic grants in the Book of Deer before 1132. Gillecrist mac Gillewinin witnessed the charter by Uchtredus filius Fergusi of the church of Colmanele to the Abbey of Holyrood c. 1165, and mention is made of the lands of Gilcriste Kide near the river Nethan c. 1180-1203." 2 Early History of the Gilcrease familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gilcrease research. Another 328 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1057, 1179, 1190, 1200, 1204, 1219, 1231, 1282, 1296, 1302, 1304, 1343, 1707, 1732, 1774 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gilcrease History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gilcrease Spelling VariationsWhen the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. Gilcrease has been written Gilchrist, Gilchristson, Ghilchriston, Gillchrist, Gillcrest, Gilcrist and many more. Early Notables of the Gilcrease familyNotable amongst the Clan at this time was Ebenezer Gilchrist (1707-1774), Scottish physician, born at Dumfries in 1707, studied medicine at Edinburgh, London, and Paris, and graduated... Gilcrease RankingIn the United States, the name Gilcrease is the 12,419th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3 Migration of the Gilcrease family to IrelandSome of the Gilcrease family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Gilcrease familyThe crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Gilcrease: Robert Gilchrist, who settled in New Jersey in 1685; Angus Gilchrist, who settled in Wilmington N.C. in 1774; along with Henry and John and his wife Marion, Lawrence Gilchrist, who settled in Boston in 1766.
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