Show ContentsDe gilpin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name De gilpin arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name De gilpin comes from given name Gilpin or in some circumstances from an ancestor and in "the son of Gilbert." 1 The surname came to denote a son or descendent of one who was named Gilpin.

Another source notes that the name is "armorially identified with Galpine, a form of Galopin. Bernardus Galopin of Normandy, 1198 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae.) 2

Early Origins of the De gilpin family

The surname De gilpin was first found in Westmorland "seated at Kentmere Hall, temp. King John." 3

"Kentmere Hall, the ancient residence of the Gilpins, and now occupied as a farmhouse, is a lofty quadrangular tower, four stories in height, built of rude ragstone, and having a massive and venerable aspect. Bernard Gilpin, the divine, was born at the Hall in 1517." 4

Early History of the De gilpin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our De gilpin research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1167, 1216, 1514, 1517, 1539, 1541, 1583, 1602, 1625, 1661, 1700, 1879 and 1890 are included under the topic Early De gilpin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

De gilpin Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Gilpin, Gilpins, Gylpin, de Gilpin and others.

Early Notables of the De gilpin family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Bernard Gilpin (1517-1583) the 'Apostle of the North,' born at Kentmere, Westmorland, in 1517. "He came, both by father and mother, of ‘ancient and honourable’ families. His mother was daughter of William Laton of Delamain, Cumberland. Having received the rudiments of education at a grammar school in the north, Gilpin was sent to Queen's College, Oxford, at the age of sixteen. At Oxford he was much attracted to the works of Erasmus, and received help in acquiring Greek and Hebrew from Mr. Neale, a fellow of New College, and afterwards the author of...
Another 162 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early De gilpin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the De gilpin family to Ireland

Some of the De gilpin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 180 words (13 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the De gilpin family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name De gilpin or a variant listed above: Anthony Gilpin, who settled in Barstable, Massachusetts about 1640; Jane Gilpin settled in Virginia in 1652; Dynes, George, John, Thomas, and William Gilpin settled in Pennsylvania between 1807 and 1860.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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