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

Gille, 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 Gille surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gille in America

Gille is the 29117th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gille surname appeared 814 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Gille.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gille 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 Gille

The surname Gille has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "gille," meaning a servant or attendant. The name was commonly used to refer to young men who served as attendants or pages in the households of Scottish nobles and clan chiefs.

In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared as "Gille" or "Gill" in various Scottish records and documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. It was particularly prevalent in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, where the Gaelic language and culture were deeply rooted.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Gille can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, a series of financial records that date back to the late 13th century. These rolls mention individuals with the surname Gille who were involved in various transactions and legal matters.

As the centuries passed, the name Gille evolved and adopted different spellings, such as Gillie, Gilley, and Gillis. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the introduction of the name to other parts of the British Isles and beyond.

Notable individuals who carried the surname Gille throughout history include:

1. Duncan Gille (c. 1230-1300), a Scottish nobleman and military leader who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence.
2. Lachlan Gille (1550-1620), a Scottish poet and bard renowned for his works in the Gaelic language.
3. Alasdair Gillis (1670-1745), a Scottish soldier and Jacobite supporter who played a role in the Jacobite risings of the early 18th century.
4. Margaret Gillie (1795-1872), a Scottish author and poet who wrote extensively about her native Highlands.
5. Archibald Gillis (1838-1914), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.

It is worth noting that the surname Gille, and its various spellings, have also been associated with certain place names in Scotland, such as Gillesland and Gillespie, further emphasizing the name's Scottish heritage.

While the surname Gille may not be as prevalent today as it once was, it remains an integral part of Scottish history and culture, serving as a reminder of the country's rich heritage and the important role servants and attendants played in the lives of the nobility.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gille

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

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 Gille 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 Gille 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 Gille was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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