Show ContentsGilstrap History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Gilstrap family

The surname Gilstrap was first found in Dumfriesshire and in Warwickshire at Gilson, a hamlet that dates back to 1232 AD. Gilston is a village near Harlow in the county of Hertfordshire. It dates back to 1197 when it was first listed as Gedelston and literally meant "farmstead or village of a man called Gedel or Gydel," from the Old English personal name + "tun." 1

Early History of the Gilstrap family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gilstrap research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1150 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Gilstrap History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gilstrap Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gillson, Gilson, Gillieson and others.

Early Notables of the Gilstrap family

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

Gilstrap Ranking

In the United States, the name Gilstrap is the 7,611st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Ireland Migration of the Gilstrap family to Ireland

Some of the Gilstrap 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.


United States Gilstrap migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gilstrap Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Anna H. Gilstrap, aged 27, who settled in Dalton, Ga., in 1922

Contemporary Notables of the name Gilstrap (post 1700) +

  • Mark Gilstrap (b. 1952), American politician, Kansas state legislator
  • Jim Gilstrap (1942-2007), American college and CFL football coach
  • James Earl "Jim" Gilstrap (b. 1948), American singer, known for his solo hit single "Swing Your Daddy" (1975)
  • Hunter Gilstrap (b. 1983), American professional soccer player
  • Chena Gilstrap (d. 2002), American college football coach
  • Robert "Bob" Gilstrap (b. 1974), American mixed martial artist
  • Sir William Gilstrap (1816-1896), 1st Baronet, of Fornham St Genevieve, Suffolk, English maltster and philanthropist
  • Brigadier-General Philip Gilstrap Bruton (1891-1960), American Director of Labor War Food Administration (1943-1945) 3


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Philip Bruton. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Bruton/Philip_Gilstrap/USA.html


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