Show ContentsGirling History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Girling surname is thought to be a habitational name taken on from a now lost or unidentified place name in England.

Early Origins of the Girling family

The surname Girling was first found in Norfolk where the family name was first referenced in the year 1296 when William Girlyn held estates in that shire. The Girlington family were early proprietors of the township of Leck in Lancashire. 1

Early History of the Girling family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Girling research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1177, 1455, 1487 and 1642 are included under the topic Early Girling History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Girling Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Girling, Girlyn, Girlington, Gerlinston, Garlington, Gerling, Gerlin, Girlin, Gerlyn, Gerlinge, Gylinge and many more.

Early Notables of the Girling family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Girling family of Wellington and Outwell


United States Girling migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Girling Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Richard Girling, who arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1635 2
  • John Girling, who arrived in Virginia in 1667
Girling Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Elizabeth Girling, who arrived in Virginia in 1730
Girling Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Wm. Girling, who arrived at Philadelphia in 1807
  • Thomas Girling, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1893
  • Fannie Girling, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from Nottingham, in 1897
Girling Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Minnie Girling, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Birmingham, in 1900
  • Elsie Maud Girling, aged 9, who immigrated to America from Birmingham, in 1900
  • Mrs. Albert N. Girling, aged 25, who landed in America from Chippenham, England, in 1909
  • Albert N. Girling, aged 35, who landed in America from Chippenham, England, in 1909
  • Wm. B. Girling, aged 60, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1913
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Girling migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Girling Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Girling, (b. 1860), aged 23, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Westland" arriving in Hawke's Bay, Napier, North Island, New Zealand in 1883 3
  • Mrs. Charlotte Girling, (b. 1860), aged 23, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Westland" arriving in Hawke's Bay, Napier, North Island, New Zealand in 1883 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Girling (post 1700) +

  • Mary Anne Girling (1827-1886), English religious leader, the founder of the sect called "The People of God", also known as New Forest Shakers 4
  • Brigadier Francis Edward Buller Girling (1897-1949), British general in World War II 5
  • William Girling OBE, British chairman of the Metropolitan Water Board, eponym of the William Girling Reservoir in London
  • Laura Girling, Canadian actress, known for The Successor (1996), Othello (2001) and Random Quest (2006)
  • Barry Girling (1857-1905), Welsh international rugby union player, Cardiff RFC Captain (1881-1882)
  • Russ Girling, Canadian President and CEO of TransCanada Corporation (2010-)
  • William James Girling CBE (1882-1973), New Zealand Reform Party Member of Parliament for Wairau (1922-1928), awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935
  • Julie McCulloch Girling MEP (b. 1956), British Conservative politician, Member of the European Parliament for South West England (2009-)
  • Richard Girling, British journalist, feature writer for The Sunday Times
  • Albert H Girling, English founder of Girling in 1925, a British automotive systems manufacturing company


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. 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)
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  4. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020
  5. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 5) Francis Girling. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Girling/Francis_Edward_Buller/Great_Britain.html


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