Gilchrest
A habitational name from a location likely derived from a Scottish Gaelic form meaning "follower of Christ."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 514 Americans carry the last name Gilchrest. That puts it at #49,177 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.15 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 666,837 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gilchrest surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
514
1 in 666,837
Census rank
#49,177
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
428
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 428 bearers of the surname Gilchrest in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 49177th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gilchrest, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.3%. The next largest groups are Black (19.9%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gilchrest
The surname Gilchrest has its origin in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "gille" meaning servant and "crìosd" meaning Christ, essentially translating to "servant of Christ." The name was initially borne by followers of the church or those in religious orders.
In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared as Gilcrist or Gilchrist, with various spellings such as Gilkrist, Gilcree, and Gilcrie. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling during that era. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.
The Gilchrest surname has a strong association with the Highlands of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Perthshire and Angus. Interestingly, a place called Gilchristland existed in the parish of Arbuthnott, Kincardineshire, which may have derived its name from an early bearer of the surname.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named John Gilchrest (c. 1510-1582) was a Scottish Catholic priest and author who wrote against the Reformation. Another early bearer of the name was Sir John Gilchrist (c. 1600-1670), a Scottish landowner and supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
The Gilchrest surname also found its way to Ireland, where it was anglicized to Gilchrist. One of the most prominent Irish figures with this name was Ebenezer Gilchrist (1707-1786), a Presbyterian minister and early advocate for Irish independence.
In the 19th century, a notable bearer of the Gilchrest surname was John Borthwick Gilchrist (1759-1841), a Scottish orientalist and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Indian languages and literature. Another individual of note was Charles Gilchrest (1812-1883), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh.
Throughout history, the Gilchrest surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, landowners, scholars, and architects, reflecting its Scottish heritage and the diverse paths taken by its bearers.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gilchrest
Among Census respondents with the surname Gilchrest, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.3%. The next largest groups are Black (19.9%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Gilchrest bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Gilchrest surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White74.3%
- Black or African American19.9%
- Two or more races4.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Gilchrest surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #49,177 | #49,177 | 0.0% |
| Count | 428 | 428 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Gilchrest bearers went from 428 to 428 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #49,177 to #49,177.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Gilchrest
FAQ
Gilchrest surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Gilchrest?
The surname Gilchrest holds position #49,177 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 514 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Gilchrest surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gilchrest, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.3%. The next largest groups are Black (19.9%) and Two or More Races (4.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.