Gilles History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  France 
  Scotland 
  Ireland 
  England 


The distinguished Gilles family, which is intricately woven into the intricate tapestry of Scottish history, probably finds its origin with the proud Norman people.

However, Gille or Gillebert (fl. 1105-1145), Bishop of Limerick, "termed by Keating Giolla Easbog, was consecrated in Ireland, but it is uncertain whether he was an Irishman or a Dane, Limerick being then a Danish city. " 1

How this very early entry fits into the history of the family is uncertain, but we include in as a point of reference.

Early Origins of the Gilles family

The surname Gilles was first found in Yorkshire, where the Domesday Book of 1086 listed Ghille, Ghile, Ghil. 2 Gamel filius Gille was a Knights Templar in Yorkshire in 1185. Johannes films Gille was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1297. 3

Some of the family were also found in Lincolnshire where Henricus filius Gllli, Gille was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1200. Two years later, Ralph, Robert Gille was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1202.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Richard filius Gille, Cambridgeshire; Gille Hulle, Cambridgeshire; and Roger Gille, Oxfordshire. 4

Henry Gille moved the family name to Cumberland in 1200 and the family gave its name to the village of Gilsland, a watering-place, in the parish of Lanercost-Abbey, Eskdale ward, E. division of Cumberland. 5

And it is this branch of the family that we will now focus. "A tradition held by members of the Aberdeen [Scotland] family of this name is that they came originally from Cumberland, where at an early period they owned lands, among others the barony of Gillsland. Gilsland, one of three original baronies in Cumberland, is spelled Gillesland in 1240, and may have been the possession of one Gilli or Gille. Gilli is an old West Scandinavian personal name, borrowed at an earlier period directly from OG. gilla, 'a servant,' or from a pet form of one of the numerous Gaelic names in Gilla-, as Gillebride, Gillechrist, etc. The abbreviated form was not used by Gaels as a proper name, but such usage originated among the Vikings in the West. The surname is of great antiquity on both sides of the Border. Gille filius Boed was one of the witnesses to Earl David's Inquisitio concerning the lands of the church of Glasgow, a. 1124. This Gille son of Boed or Boet stands on a pedestal unique, perhaps in Scottish history, as the last Scottish chieftain to hold sway in England against the power of the Norman." 6

Indeed the lion's share of the family claim Scotland as their homeland.

Early History of the Gilles family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gilles research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1241, 1296, 1328, 1330, 1333, 1366, 1369, 1389, 1460, 1564, 1565, 1583, 1586, 1589, 1597, 1635, 1642, 1658, 1659, 1690, 1697, 1771 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gilles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gilles Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gill, Gille, Gills, Gilles, Gyll, Gylls and others.

Early Notables of the Gilles family

Notable among the family at this time was Alexander Gill the Elder (1565-1635), High-Master of St. Paul's School, born in Lincolnshire 7 Feb. 1564, was admitted scholar of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, in September 1583, and proceeded B.A. 1586...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gilles Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gilles Ranking

In the United States, the name Gilles is the 9,131st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7 However, in France, the name Gilles is ranked the 380th most popular surname with an estimated 11,054 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Gilles family to Ireland

Some of the Gilles family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Gilles migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gilles Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Gilles Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Gilles Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Gilles migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gilles Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
Gilles Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Gilles migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gilles Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Gilles migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13
Gilles Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Gilles (post 1700) +


The Gilles 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: In te Domine spes nostra
Motto Translation: Our hope is in thee, O Lord
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