Contents [hide]

Gillan History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Sources

Gillan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Gillan

What does the name Gillan mean?

The Gillan surname is a reduced Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic Mac Gille Fhaoláin, which means "son of the servant of St Faolán." While the name may have originated in Ireland, this line was extant by the beginning of the 17th century, only to find many of the family to return to Ireland about 100 years later with the Plantation of Ulster.

Early Origins of the Gillan family

The surname Gillan was first found in Midlothian, where Gilbert McGillelane or McGillolane was listed as captain of Clan Connan of Galloway during the reign of David II (1324-1371). Also during this time, Ingeram M'Gillelan held a lease of lands in the barony of Redcastle in 1372. 1

Early History of the Gillan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gillan research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1206, 1667, 1731, 1735, 1847, 1864 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gillan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gillan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gilleland, Gillieland, Gillsland, Gilsland, Gillesland, Gillerlaine, Gillerland, Gillisland, Gillan, Gillander, Gilander, MacGillanders and many more.

Early Notables of the Gillan family

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

Gillan Ranking

In the United States, the name Gillan is the 16,533^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Gillan family to Ireland

Some of the Gillan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 127 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gillan migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gillan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hugh Gillan, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 3

Gillan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Gillan, who settled in New York in 1803
George Gillan, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1812 3
Mich Gillan, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 3
Sally Gillan, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 3
Darby Gillan, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gillan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gillan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Eliza Gillan, aged 3 months who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Agent" departing from the port of New Ross, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 4
Mr. James Gillan, aged 36 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Agent" departing from the port of New Ross, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle on July 9th, 1847 4
Mr. Alexander Gillan, aged 50 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Marchioness of Bute" departing 10th June 1847 from Belfast, Ireland; the ship arrived on 31st July 1847 but he died on board 5
Mr. John Gillan, aged 4 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Numa" departing 2nd June 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 27th July 1847 but he died on board 5
Minnie Gillan, who arrived in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862

Gillan migration to Australia +

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

Gillan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Gillan, (b. 1803), aged 35, Irish farm labourer who was convicted in Antrim, Ireland for 10 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 11th May 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mary Gillan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Superb" in 1839 7
David Gillan, aged 34, a bricklayer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "William Stevenson" 8

Gillan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Gillan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Sarah Gillan, aged 29, a domestic servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Gillan (post 1700) +

Karen Sheila Gillan (b. 1987), Scottish multiple award winning actress and former model from Inverness, Scotland, known for Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) and many more
Dame Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan DBE (1952-2021), British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Chesham and Amersham from 1992 until her death, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales (2005-2010), Secretary of State for Wales (2010-2012), Chairman of the 1922 Committee (2019)
Lisa Roberts Gillan (b. 1965), American actress, known for Maid in Manhattan (2002), Eat Pray Love (2010) and Raising Helen (2004).
Maria Mazziotti Gillan (b. 1940), American poet
W. Rush Gillan, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Franklin County, 1891-92 9
Kim J. Gillan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Montana, 2008 9
Henry E. Gillan, American politician, Mayor of El Cerrito, California, 1956-58 9
George C. Gillan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Nebraska, 1912 9
Charles H. Gillan, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Franklin County Democratic Party, 1937; Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1956 9
Michael Gillan, Scottish actor, born in Dundee, Scotland, known for RFDS (2021), Hill Town-The Untold Story (2021-) and Hoodlumz (2022)
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Gillan family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Joseph Gillan (b. 1920), Scottish Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 10

Sources +

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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 30)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 77)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SUPERB 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Superb.htm
South Australian Register Friday 2nd February 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) William Stevenson 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/williamstevenson1855.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm