Gilley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Suffering from poverty and racial discrimination, thousands of Irish families left the island in the 19th century for North America aboard cramped passenger ships. The early migrants became settlers of small tracts of land, and those that came later were often employed in the new cities or transitional work camps. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Although the immigrants from this period were often maligned when they arrived in the United States, they provided the cheap labor that was necessary for the development of that country as an industrial power. Early immigration and passenger lists have revealed many immigrants bearing the name Gilley:

Gilley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Phillip Gilley, aged 23, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806 5
• Robert Gilley, aged 28, who landed in Maine in 1812 5
• W B Gilley, aged 27, who landed in New York in 1812 5
• Anne Gilley, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 5
• William B Gilley, who arrived in New York in 1822 5
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gilley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. George Gilley, (Jolly), (b. 1780), aged 23, British Convict who was convicted in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
• Mr. James Gilley, (b. 1836), aged 20, Cornish agricultural labourer travelling aboard the ship "Persia" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 22nd June 1856 7

• James Wade Gilley (b. 1938), American academic, 4th President of University of Tennessee from 1999 to 2001, President of Marshall University from 1991 to 1999
• Herbert Paul Gilley (1929-1957), American country music lyricist and promoter from Kentucky, after his death due to drowning at the age of 27, he was identified more widely as likely having written the lyrics to a dozen famous songs, including two that were hits for Hank Williams: "Cold, Cold Heart" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
• Bruce Gilley (b. 1966), American professor of political science at Portland State University
• Mickey Leroy Gilley (1936-2022), American country music singer and songwriter, known for "Room Full of Roses", "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time"
• Clarence W. Gilley (b. 1919), American Republican politician, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly (1949-1954) 8
• Stan Gilley (b. 1982), American professional football player
• Wendell Gilley, American bird watcher and artist who carved birds in wood on Mount Desert Island, Maine
• Wayne W. Gilley, American politician, Mayor of Lawton, Oklahoma, 1967 9
• Janice E. Gilley, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Florida, 2004 9
• Clarence William Gilley (b. 1919), American Republican politician, Member of Wisconsin State Assembly from Florence, Forest and Oneida counties, 1949-50 9
• ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Gillis and Other Pioneer Families of Georgia by Marvin B. Gillis.
• Scots and Their Kin by Clayton G. Metcalf.