Find out how popular the first name Gilson has been for the last 40 years (from 1979 to 2018) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Gilson by gender

Based on the last 40 years of data, Gilson is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2018, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Gilson.

The history of the first name Gilson

The name Gilson is an English given name derived from the Old English words "gil" meaning "ravine" or "deep valley" and "sunu" meaning "son." It originated in medieval England, likely during the Anglo-Saxon period, as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a ravine or deep valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gilson can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared as a surname, suggesting it had already been in use as a given name for some time before that.

In the 13th century, a famous bearer of the name was Gilson de Vaux, a Norman knight who fought in the Third Crusade alongside Richard the Lionheart. He was known for his bravery and skill in battle.

Another notable figure named Gilson was Gilson de Malpas, a 14th-century English landowner and knight who served under Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was recorded as having participated in several battles, including the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

In the 16th century, Gilson Everard was an English merchant and explorer who travelled to the Americas and wrote accounts of his voyages. He was born in 1541 and died around 1615.

During the 17th century, Gilson Quaker was a prominent Quaker preacher and author in England. He was born in 1628 and died in 1699, leaving behind several influential religious writings.

In the 18th century, Gilson Finch was a British artist known for his landscape paintings. He was born in 1746 and died in 1825, leaving behind a significant body of work that depicted the English countryside.

While the name Gilson has its roots in Old English, it has been used across various cultures and time periods, with bearers making their mark in various fields throughout history.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Gilson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gilson, please contact us.

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