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Gillespie History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Gillespie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland-Alt
Scotland

Etymology of Gillespie

What does the name Gillespie mean?

The age-old Pictish-Scottish family name Gillespie is derived from the Gaelic name Gilleasbuig, which means the bishop's servant. The Gaelic word easbuig is borrowed from the Latin word episcopus, which means bishop. Patronymic names often substituted the name of a saint or other revered religious figure in place of a devout bearer's actual father. The name Gillespie is regarded as the Gaelic cognate of the Anglo-Saxon personal name Archibald, for reasons that remain obscure.

Early Origins of the Gillespie family

The surname Gillespie was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland.

For the origin of the name, Sir Thomas Innes tells us that the name is derived from Sliochd Gillies a Chieftain of the MacPhersons in Invershie. He places this branch of the MacPhersons, as descendants of Elias MacPherson, brother of Kenneth MacPherson, ancestor of the MacPherson Clan.

However, Gillies was recorded as living approximately 1250-1300, and this record is predated by researches by two other historians who place a Ewan filius Gillespie as witnessing a Charter by Alwoin, Earl of Lennox, granted in 1175. The connection between this earlier record and the MacPherson line is vague and uncertain but most historians agree that the Gillespie are of the Clan Chattan.

Early History of the Gillespie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gillespie research. Another 214 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1175, 1228, 1229, 1613, 1617, 1648, 1675, 1776, 1825 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gillespie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gillespie Spelling Variations

In the Middle ages, spelling and translation were not yet regulated by any general rules. spelling variations in names were common even among members of one family unit. Gillespie has appeared Gillespie, Gilaspy, Gilaspie, Gilespie, Gilespy, Gillaspey, Gillaspie, Gillaspy, Gillespay, Gillespee, Gillespery, Gillespey, Gillespie, Gillespy, Gillispey and many more.

Early Notables of the Gillespie family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

Patrick Gillespie (1617-1675), a Scottish minister, strong Covenanter, and Principal of Glasgow University by the support of Oliver Cromwell
George Gillespie (1613-1648), Scottish clergyman who in 1648 became minister at the High Church, Edinburgh and moderator of the General Assembly

Gillespie World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gillespie is the 790^th most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Gillespie is ranked the 834^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,428 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Gillespie is the 670^th popular surname with an estimated 5,819 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Gillespie as 430^th with 1,552 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Gillespie as 622^nd with 10,595 people. 5

Migration of the Gillespie family to Ireland

Some of the Gillespie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gillespie migration to the United States +

Faced by this persecution and the generally unstable political climate of those days, many Scots chose to leave their homeland for Ireland, Australia, and North America in search of greater opportunity and freedom. The colonies across the Atlantic were the most popular choice, but a passage there was neither cheap nor easily suffered. Passengers arrived sick and poor, but those who made it intact often found land and more tolerant societies in which to live. These brave settlers formed the backbone of the burgeoning nations of Canada and the United States. It is only this century that the ancestors of these families have begun to recover their collective identity through the patriotic highland games and Clan societies that have sprung up throughout North America. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Gillespie:

Gillespie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Neil Gillespie with his wife Mary arrived in New York State in 1739 with his two sons, Gilbert and Angus
Neil Gillespie, who arrived in New York in 1739 6
Andrew Gillespie, who landed in New England in 1759 6
Colin Gillespie, who landed in New York in 1798 6

Gillespie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alex Gillespie, who arrived in America in 1804 6
Margaret Gillespie, who landed in America in 1804 6
Hugh Gillespie, who landed in America in 1804 6
James Gillespie, who landed in America in 1805 6
Francis Gillespie, who arrived in America in 1806 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gillespie migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gillespie Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Allice Gillespie, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
John Gillespie, aged 24, a yeoman, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" from Galway, Ireland
Eliza Gillespie, aged 20, a sister, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" from Galway, Ireland
Sarah Mary Gillespie, aged 20, a sister, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" from Galway, Ireland
Sarah Gillespie, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gillespie migration to Australia +

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

Gillespie Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Matthew Gillespie, (b. 1803), aged 16, Scottish coopersmith who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years for theft, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. Patrick Gillespie, (b. 1808), aged 19, Irish tinman who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 7 years for robbery, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 19th July 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Daniel Gillespie, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. James Gillespie, (b. 1807), aged 23, Irish groom who was convicted in Armagh, Ireland for 7 years for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Edward" on 17th October 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. John Gillespie, British Convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gillespie 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:

Gillespie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Andrew Gillespie, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
C H Gillespie, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Bernian
Andrew Haggarty Gillespie, aged 36, a joiner, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Birman" in 1842
Christine Gillespie, aged 36, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Birman" in 1842
Charles Haggarty Gillespie, aged 9, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Birman" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gillespie (post 1700) +

Major Archibald H. Gillespie (1810-1873), American officer in the United States Marine Corps
Michael James "Mike" Gillespie (1940-2020), American college head coach at UC Irvine and head coach at USC from 1987 to 2006
James Lamont "Haven" Gillespie (1888-1975), American Tin Pan Alley composer and lyricist, best known as writer of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"
Gordie Gillespie (1926-2015), American baseball, football and basketball coach, inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009
Brigadier-General Alexander Garfield Gillespie (1881-1956), American Chief of Industrial Service, Ordnance Department (1945-1946) 12
Albert Arnold Gillespie (1899-1978), American cinema special effects artist with 13 Oscar nominations
Brock Gillespie (b. 1983), American professional basketball player
Aaron Gillespie (b. 1983), American rock singer & drummer
Paul Gillespie (1920-1970), Major League Baseball catcher
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (1917-1993), American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, singer, and composer
... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Gillespie family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Robert Walls Gillespie (d. 1914), British Senior 4th Engineer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 13

Halifax Explosion

Miss Isabella Gillespie (1893-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14

HMS Repulse

Mr. Charles Gillespie, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 15

RMS Titanic

Mr. William Henry Gillespie (d. 1912), aged 34, Irish Second Class passenger from Abbeyleix, Laois who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 16

USS Arizona

Mr. David W. Gillespie, American Seaman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 17

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1829 with 176 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1829
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 5) Alexander Gillespie. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Gillespie/Alexander_Garfield/USA.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html