Gilchrest History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

In ancient Scotland, the ancestors of the Gilchrest family were part of a tribe called the Picts. The name Gilchrest is derived from the Gaelic name Gille Criosd, which became Gillacrist in Middle Gaelic. The name literally means "servant of Christ." 1

Early Origins of the Gilchrest family

The surname Gilchrest was first found in Berwickshire where the first records of the family were as a forename. "Gillecrist mac Finguni and Gillecrist mac Cormaic are witnesses to Gaelic grants in the Book of Deer before 1132. Gillecrist mac Gillewinin witnessed the charter by Uchtredus filius Fergusi of the church of Colmanele to the Abbey of Holyrood c. 1165, and mention is made of the lands of Gilcriste Kide near the river Nethan c. 1180-1203." 2

Early History of the Gilchrest family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gilchrest research. Another 328 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1057, 1179, 1190, 1200, 1204, 1219, 1231, 1282, 1296, 1302, 1304, 1343, 1707, 1732, 1774 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gilchrest History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gilchrest Spelling Variations

The arts of spelling and translation were yet in their infancies when surnames began, so there are an enormous number of spelling variations of the names in early Scottish records. This is a particular problem with Scottish names because of the numerous times a name might have been loosely translated to English from Gaelic and back. Gilchrest has been spelled Gilchrist, Gilchristson, Ghilchriston, Gillchrist, Gillcrest, Gilcrist and many more.

Early Notables of the Gilchrest family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Ebenezer Gilchrist (1707-1774), Scottish physician, born at Dumfries in 1707, studied medicine at Edinburgh, London, and Paris, and graduated...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gilchrest Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gilchrest family to Ireland

Some of the Gilchrest family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gilchrest migration to the United States +

This oppression forced many Scots to leave their homelands. Most of these chose North America as their destination. Although the journey left many sick and poor, these immigrants were welcomed the hardy with great opportunity. Many of these settlers stood up for their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. More recently, Scots abroad have recovered much of their collective heritage through highland games and other patriotic functions and groups. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has located various settlers bearing the name Gilchrest:

Gilchrest Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Gilchrest, who landed in Virginia in 1784 3

Gilchrest Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Samuel J. Gilchrest, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1896

Gilchrest Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

William Gilchrest, aged 30, who landed in America from Glasgow, in 1903
Agnes Gilchrest, aged 30, who landed in America from Ballinasloe, Ireland, in 1907
Ellen Gilchrest, aged 40, who settled in America, in 1908
LeoBhard Gilchrest, aged 40, who immigrated to America, in 1908
Jennie C. Gilchrest, aged 65, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gilchrest (post 1700) +

Wayne Thomas Gilchrest (b. 1946), former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives

Citations +

Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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)