Show ContentsGillette History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Gillette is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The name Gillette came from a diminution of the medieval given name Giles. That name is derived from the Greek aigidion, which means kid, or young goat. [1]

"In England there are numerous families who write their name Gillett and Gillot, all of French extraction." [2]

"Oxfordshire is now the principal home of the Gilletts, but the name is also found in Kent. In Lincolnshire the name is represented by Gilliart, Gilliatt, and Gillyatt." [3]

"The family may have come with William the Conqueror into England, from Gillette, a town in Piedmont, France. Gillette, the son of Giles." [4]

Early Origins of the Gillette family

The surname Gillette was first found in Oxfordshire, but also many other shires throughout ancient Britain. Listed as both a forename and surname in many early rolls, the name quickly spread.

This tradition continued even until the 14th century where the Yorkshire Polls Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Thomas Taylour et Gillot uxor ejus; Robertus Lyster et Gillot' uxor ejus; Gillote Fox; Johannes Gilotson; Willelmus Gilliote; Johannes Undyrhyll et Gyllot' uxor ejus; Willelmus Gehot; and Johannes Gylyott. [5]

Early History of the Gillette family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gillette research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gillette History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gillette Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Gillette has been recorded under many different variations, including Gillette, Gilliott, Gillet, Gillott, Gillett and others.

Early Notables of the Gillette family

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

Gillette Ranking

In the United States, the name Gillette is the 2,676th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. [6]


United States Gillette migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Gillettes were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Gillette Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jonathan Gillette, aged 24, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship Mary & John, progenitor of the Gillette family in the United States which included King Camp Gillette, founder of the Gillette Safety Razor Company in 1901 [7]
Gillette Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • C. Gillette, aged 19, who landed in America, in 1892
  • Edw. F. Gillette, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1892
  • Alice d. Gillette, aged 40, who landed in America, in 1894
  • A. D. Gillette, aged 40, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
Gillette Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Collins Gillette, aged 23, who settled in America, in 1907
  • Edith Gillette, aged 7, who landed in America from Rugby, England, in 1907
  • Delphine Gillette, aged 14, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
  • Desiree Gillette, aged 42, who landed in America from St. Brice, France, in 1908
  • Alanta Gillette, aged 41, who immigrated to America, in 1909
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Gillette migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gillette Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Emily Gillette, aged 59, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1908

Contemporary Notables of the name Gillette (post 1700) +

  • King Camp Gillette (1855-1932), American businessman, founder of Gillette Safety Razor Company in 1901, invented a best selling version of the safety razor
  • Sandra Navarro Gillette (b. 1974), American singer and rapper known as Gillette
  • Paul J. Gillette (1938-1996), American wine expert and writer
  • Mic Gillette (1951-2016), American brass player, member of the R&B band Tower of Power
  • Leland James Gillette (1912-1981), known professionally as Lee Gillette, was an American A&R director, record producer and musician
  • Frank E. Gillette (1848-1923), was one of the last judges appointed to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma Territory
  • Clarence Preston Gillette (1859-1941), American entomologist
  • Douglas Wiley Gillette (1918-1942), American naval officer
  • Frank Gillette (b. 1941), American video and installation artist
  • Elizabeth Van R. Gillette (1874-1965), American Democratic Party politician, Physician; Member of New York State Assembly from Schenectady County 2nd District, 1920; Defeated, 1920 [8]
  • ... (Another 44 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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