Find out how popular the last name Gillam is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gillam.

Gillam, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Gillam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gillam in America

Gillam is the 9003rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gillam surname appeared 3,633 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gillam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gillam to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Gillam

The surname Gillam is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "gil" or "gile," meaning a ravine or deep valley, and "ham," meaning a homestead or settlement. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a ravine or valley.

The earliest recorded instances of the Gillam surname date back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, there is a reference to a person named William Gilem. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also mention a John Gilem.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, various spellings of the name emerged, such as Gillham, Gilham, and Gileham. These variations likely reflect regional differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions at the time.

One notable historical figure with the surname Gillam was Benjamin Gillam, a 17th-century English explorer and sea captain. Born in 1663, he led several expeditions to Hudson Bay and the Canadian Arctic on behalf of the Hudson's Bay Company. Gillam is credited with being one of the first European explorers to map parts of the Hudson Bay region.

Another individual of note was Zephaniah Gillam Jr., an 18th-century American silversmith and engraver. Born in 1733 in Philadelphia, he was celebrated for his intricate and ornate silverwork, which was highly sought after by the wealthy elite of colonial America.

In the realm of literature, Ann Gillam, an English writer born in 1801, gained recognition for her novels and works of fiction. Her most famous work, "The Countess of Blessington," was a popular success and provided insights into the lives of the aristocracy during the Regency era.

Moving into the 19th century, Samuel Gillam, born in 1839 in England, was a prominent architect known for his work on several notable buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London. His designs were characterized by their intricate ornamentation and blending of various architectural styles.

Finally, in the 20th century, Sir Hugh Gillam, born in 1920, was a distinguished British diplomat and civil servant. He served as the British Ambassador to several countries, including France and the United States, and played a crucial role in shaping Britain's foreign policy during the latter half of the 20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gillam

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gillam.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gillam was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Gillam has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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