Show ContentsGull History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Gull family

The surname Gull was first found in Kent 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 13th century when they held estates in that county.

Early History of the Gull family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gull research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1106, 1432, 1455, 1487, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Gull History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gull Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gull, Guil, Guile, Gul, Guille, Kull, Kulle and many more.

Early Notables of the Gull family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Gull family of Kent


United States Gull migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gull Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Gull, who landed in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1740 [1]
Gull Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Adolphis Gull, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1855 [1]
  • George Gull, aged 18, who arrived in New York in 1862 [1]
  • Agnes Gull, aged 22, arrived in New York in 1892 aboard the ship "Westernland" from Antwerp, Belgium [2]
  • Gabriel Gull, aged 27, arrived in New York in 1892 aboard the ship "Nevada" from Liverpool, England [2]
Gull Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Fritz Gull, aged 38, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Bretanier" from Antwerp, Belgium [2]
  • Percy Gull, aged 41, arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Mauretania" from Saxton [2]
  • Albert Gull, aged 23, arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Olympic" from Southampton, England [2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Gull (post 1700) +

  • Sir William Withey Gull (1816-1890), 1st Baronet, an English physician, perhaps best known for identifying and naming anorexia nervosa [3]
  • Sir Rupert William Cameron Gull (b. 1954), 5th Baronet, English peer
  • Sir Michael Swinnerton Cameron Gull (1919-1989), 4th Baronet, English peer
  • Richard Cameron Gull (1894-1960), 3rd Baronet, English peer, second son of Sir Cameron Gull
  • Sir William Cameron Gull OBE, JP, (b. 1860), 2nd Baronet, known as Sir Cameron Gull, an English barrister and Liberal Unionist politician, Member of Parliament for Barnstaple (1895-1900)


The Gull 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: Sine Deo frustra
Motto Translation: Nothing without God


  1. 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)
  2. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  3. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020


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