Origins Available: Belgium,
English
The name Gellman arrived in
England after the
Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Gellman comes from the baptismal name Gilmyn. Gillman indicated that the bearer was the son of (or descended from) someone named Gilmyn. The name is of Norman origin, and was brought to
England in the wake of the conquest after the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Early Origins of the Gellman family
The surname Gellman was first found in
Norfolk where they held a
family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of
Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Early History of the Gellman family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gellman research.
Another 143 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gellman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Gellman 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 Gillman, Gilman and others.
Early Notables of the Gellman family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Gellman Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Gellman family to Ireland
Some of the Gellman family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 51 words (4 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 Gellman family to the New World and Oceana
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 Gellman or a variant listed above:
Gellman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Emilia Augusta Gellman, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850
Gellman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Eli Gellman, who was naturalized in Scott County, Indiana in 1915