Jellett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Jellett family migrated to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The surname Jellett is based on 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 Jellett family

The surname Jellett 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 Jellett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jellett research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jellett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jellett Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Jellett include Gillette, Gilliott, Gillet, Gillott, Gillett and others.

Early Notables of the Jellett family

More information is included under the topic Early Jellett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jellett migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Jelletts to arrive on North American shores:

Jellett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jonathan Jellett, who landed in Massachusetts in 1635 6
Snalter Jellett, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 6

Jellett migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Jellett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Jellett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 7
James Jellett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Buckinghamshire" in 1839 8
Catherine Jellett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Buckinghamshire" in 1839 8
William Jellett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Buckinghamshire" in 1839 8
Thomas Jellett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Buckinghamshire" in 1839 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Jellett (post 1700) +

Rob Jellett, Canadian local politician, City Councillor in Ottawa
John Holmes Jellett OBE, DSc, MA, (1905-1971), British civil engineer, Superintending Civil Engineer of MulBerry Harbour B during World War II which landed two million men, half a million vehicles and four million tons of supplies
Mainie Jellett (1897-1944), Irish painter whose Decoration (1923) was among the first abstract paintings shown in Irelan
Henry Jellett (b. 1872), Irish gynecologist and author, son of Henry Jellett
William Morgan Jellett (1857-1936), Irish Unionist Member of Parliament, Member of Parliament for Dublin University (1919-1922)
Henry Jellett (b. 1901), Irish Anglican priest, Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
John Hewitt Jellett (1817-1888), Irish academic, college head, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin (1881-1888)

Citations +

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)
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)
State Library of South Australia. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) ASIA 1839 from London with Captain Benjamin Freeman and 245 passengers, arrived Port Adelaide on 16-07-1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Asia-list.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Buckinghamshire.htm