Giliant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Giliant is one of the oldest family names to come from the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from the personal name Julian, which was both masculine and feminine in Old English. Consequently, both patronymic and metronymic surnames are derived from this name. The personal name Julian was originally derived from both the Latin masculine name Julianus and the Latin feminine name Juliana; these were both names of saints and enjoyed great popularity.

Early Origins of the Giliant family

The surname Giliant was first found in Cambridgeshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Giliant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Giliant research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1574, 1591, 1743 and 1774 are included under the topic Early Giliant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Giliant Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Giliant has undergone many spelling variations, including Julian, Jullian, Julyan, Juliane, Julion, Gillian and others.

Early Notables of the Giliant family

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

Migration of the Giliant family to Ireland

Some of the Giliant family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Giliant family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Giliant were among those contributors: William Julian, who sailed to Virginia as one of the first settlers to America in 1609; Sara Julian to Virginia in 1618; William Julian to Virginia in 1623.