| ![Show Contents]() Gillet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
France Etymology of GilletWhat does the name Gillet mean? Gillet is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. Gillet comes from a diminution of the medieval given name Giles. That name is derived from the Greek aigidion, which means kid, or young goat. 1 "In England there are numerous families who write their name Gillett and Gillot, all of French extraction." 2 "Oxfordshire is now the principal home of the Gilletts, but the name is also found in Kent. In Lincolnshire the name is represented by Gilliart, Gilliatt, and Gillyatt." 3 "The family may have come with William the Conqueror into England, from Gillette, a town in Piedmont, France. Gillette, the son of Giles." 4 Early Origins of the Gillet familyThe surname Gillet was first found in Oxfordshire, but also many other shires throughout ancient Britain. Listed as both a forename and surname in many early rolls, the name quickly spread. This tradition continued even until the 14th century where the Yorkshire Polls Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Thomas Taylour et Gillot uxor ejus; Robertus Lyster et Gillot' uxor ejus; Gillote Fox; Johannes Gilotson; Willelmus Gilliote; Johannes Undyrhyll et Gyllot' uxor ejus; Willelmus Gehot; and Johannes Gylyott. 5 Early History of the Gillet familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gillet research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gillet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gillet Spelling VariationsBefore the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Gillet were recorded, including Gillette, Gilliott, Gillet, Gillott, Gillett and others. Early Notables of the Gillet familyMore information is included under the topic Early Gillet Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gillet RankingIn France, the name Gillet is the 166th most popular surname with an estimated 19,763 people with that name. 6
| Gillet migration to the United States | + |
The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Gillet arrived in North America very early:
Gillet Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Nathaniel Gillet, who landed in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1630 7
- Jonathan Gillet, who landed in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1633 aboard the ship "Recovery" 7
- John Gillet, who arrived in Virginia in 1655 7
- Thomas Gillet, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 7
- Mary Gillet, who arrived in Virginia in 1696 7
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gillet Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Eliza Gillet, who arrived in Virginia in 1719 7
- Louis Gabriel Gillet, who arrived in New York in 1798 7
Gillet Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- H Gillet, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 7
| Gillet migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Gillet Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century- Jules Gillet, who landed in Acadia in 1688
Gillet Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Reuben Gillet, who arrived in Canada in 1828
| Contemporary Notables of the name Gillet (post 1700) | + |
- Ransom Hooker Gillet (1800-1876), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1832, 1840; U.S. Representative from New York 14th District, 1833-37 8
- John Gillet, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Cortland County, 1823 8
- Isaph Gillet, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Torrington, 1831 8
- Daniel M. Gillet, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Madison County, 1823 8
- Charles William Gillet (1840-1908), American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from New York, 1893-1905 8
- Benoni Gillet, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Granby, 1820 8
- Nicolas Gillet (b. 1976), French former professional footballer
- Ransome Gillet Holdredge (1836-1899), American painter who specialized in Northern California landscapes
| Historic Events for the Gillet family | + |
SS Southern Cross - Mr. Robert Gillet (1891-1914), Newfoundlander from Carbonear who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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