Meaning and origin
Over time, variations of the name emerged, such as Gillesby and Gillepsie, before settling into the current spelling of Gillespie.
The longer story
The last name Gillespie is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Gille Easbaig," which means "son of the bishop's servant." It is a patronymic surname, indicating that it was originally used to identify the sons of a specific man. While the exact origins of the name are not entirely clear, it is likely that it was initially used to identify individuals who served as assistants or servants to bishops in Scotland.
The name has deep historical roots in the country and is associated with the Gaelic-speaking population. Over time, Gillespie families migrated to other parts of the world, particularly during times of political and economic upheaval in Scotland.
For instance, David Gillespie was a Scottish Jacobite who fought in the Battle of Culloden in 1746, supporting the Stuart cause. Bush administration.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#811
Gillespie was the 811th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 42,693 people, about 14 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Gillespie
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Gillespie is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.