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

Gillespie, 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 Gillespie surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Gillespie in America

Gillespie is the 150436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gillespie surname appeared 100 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Gillespie.

The history of the last name Gillespie

The surname Gillespi is of Scottish origin, primarily stemming from the Gaelic language. The original form of the surname is Mac Gille Easbuig, where "Mac" means "son of,” "Gille" means "servant" or "follower," and "Easbuig" translates to "bishop." Therefore, the name can be interpreted as "son of the servant of the bishop."

Gillespi has its roots in the western isles of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Hebrides. The presence of the name in these areas can be traced back to the early Middle Ages. The name underwent various transformations in spelling over the centuries, with early variations including MacGilaspik, MacGillespik, and MacGilleEasbuig.

One of the earliest recorded usages of a surname that evolved into Gillespi appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in the year 1296, with a mention of a Thomas MacGilaspik. This indicates that the surname was already in use by the late 13th century. By the 14th century, the surname appears in various Scottish manuscripts and records.

An important historical reference is Gillespie Mac Gille Easbuig, who lived during the 12th century and is noted for his contributions to the Church in his region. Another significant figure was John MacGilaspik, a landholder in Argyll in the early 15th century, mentioned in records from 1427.

Fast forward to the 16th century, Archibald MacGillespie is another notable figure. He was a known chieftain of a clan in the western isles around the year 1530. The name continued to evolve, and by the 17th century, Anglicized versions such as Gillespie and Gillespi were more common.

In the 18th century, Dr. George Gillespie (1613-1648) became a prominent theologian and minister within the Church of Scotland. His works and sermons were influential during the time of the Covenanters. Another noteworthy individual was Captain James Gillespie, who served in the Royal Navy during the late 18th century, performing notable exploits during various naval conflicts.

By the 19th century, the surname had spread beyond Scotland, with James Gillespie Graham (1776-1855), a renowned Scottish architect, becoming one of the most celebrated bearers of the name. His contributions to Gothic Revival architecture remain significant in Scotland's architectural heritage.

Ancient origins, ecclesiastical associations, and regional significance helped establish the surname Gillespi. It holds an enduring place in history through its various bearers who contributed to religious, military, and cultural development.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gillespie

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gillespie 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.

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

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

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