Gillespie
A Scottish toponymic surname derived from Gaelic meaning "bishop's servant" or "servant of the church."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 49,597 Americans carry the last name Gillespie. That puts it at #811 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 14.47 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 6,911 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gillespie 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
50K
1 in 6,911
Census rank
#811
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
14.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
43K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 42,693 bearers of the surname Gillespie in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 14.47 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 811th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gillespie, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.2%. The next largest groups are Black (13.8%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gillespie
The surname Gillespie has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the late medieval period. It is a territorial name derived from the lands of Gillespie, located in East Lothian, near Edinburgh. The name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic "Gilleasbuig," which means "servant of the bishop."
The earliest recorded mention of the name Gillespie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. One of the entries in the Rolls is "Johan de Gyllesbyr," likely a variant spelling of Gillespie.
In the 15th century, the Gillespie family held lands in East Lothian and Fife, and their name appeared in various charters and legal documents of the time. One notable member of the family was Sir John Gillespie, who was appointed as a judge in the Court of Session in 1532.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Gillespies were prominent in the Scottish Reformation movement. Rev. George Gillespie (1613-1648), a Scottish minister and theologian, was a leading figure in the Presbyterian Church and a influential writer on religious matters.
In the 18th century, the Gillespies were involved in the Scottish Enlightenment. William Gillespie (1776-1825) was a renowned Scottish philosopher and mathematician, known for his contributions to the field of natural philosophy.
Another notable figure was Sir Robert Rollo Gillespie (1766-1814), a Scottish military officer who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He played a crucial role in the capture of the Dutch colony of Java in 1811.
James Gillespie (1737-1805) was a Scottish tobacco merchant and philanthropist who established the Gillespie's Hospital in Edinburgh, a school for the education of poor children.
Throughout history, the surname Gillespie has been associated with various place names, such as Gillespietown and Gillespiehill, reflecting the family's landholdings and influence in Scotland.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gillespie
Among Census respondents with the surname Gillespie, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.2%. The next largest groups are Black (13.8%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Gillespie 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 Gillespie surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White81.2%
- Black or African American13.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races1.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Gillespie 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 | #811 | #811 | 0.0% |
| Count | 42,693 | 42,693 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 14.47 | 14.47 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Gillespie bearers went from 42,693 to 42,693 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #811 to #811.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Gillespie
FAQ
Gillespie surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Gillespie?
The surname Gillespie holds position #811 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 49,597 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 14.47 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Gillespie surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gillespie, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.2%. The next largest groups are Black (13.8%) and Hispanic (2.3%). 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.