Gilling History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Gilling was first found in Yorkshire at either Gilling East or Gilling West, two villages that both date back to the Domesday Book of 1086. Gilling West is thought to be older as there are records of it Saxon times as Ingetlingum. 1

Gilling Abbey, a medieval Anglo-Saxon monastery is generally thought to have been located there, but some historians believe that it was located in Gilling East. The abbey was founded by Queen Eanflæd, the wife of King Oswiu of Northumbria (c. 612-670.)

"This is a place of great antiquity, and remarkable as the scene of the murder of Oswy, King of Deira, by his host, Oswin of Bernicia; in expiation of which crime, a monastery was founded on the spot by Queen Eanfleda; but not the slightest vestige of it can now be traced. Gilling Castle, situated in a fine park on the west of the village, was built by Alan, Earl of Richmond, to repel the frequent attacks of the Saxons and Danes for the recovery of their lost estates. " 2

Again, both villages are listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 but with slightly different spellings: Ghellinge (Gilling East); and Ghellinges (Gilling West.) At that time, the lands of Gilling, were held by Count Alan. Literally, the place name means "settlement of the family or followers of a man called Gythla or Getla," from the Old English personal name + "-ingas." 1

One of the first records of the name as a surname was Grim de Gilling who was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Yorkshire in 1198. A few years later, Gericus de Gilling was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Yorkshire in 1208 and later, John de Gilling was listed there in 1306. 3