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

Gillette, 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 Gillette surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gillette in America

Gillette is the 2831st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gillette surname appeared 12,724 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Gillette.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gillette 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 Gillette

The surname Gillette originated in France, specifically in the Normandy region, and dates back to the early Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "gillette," which means "little gill" or "small ravine." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a small ravine or valley.

The name Gillette first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landowners in England after the Norman Conquest. This indicates that individuals bearing this surname were among the Norman settlers who accompanied William the Conqueror to England in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gillette was in the 12th century, when a man named Robert Gillette was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1166. This document recorded financial transactions and administrative matters in medieval England.

During the 13th century, the name Gillette was found in various locations across Normandy, such as in the village of Gillette near Rouen. This suggests that the name was well-established in the region and may have originated from a place name.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure named John Gillette was recorded as being a member of the English Parliament in 1358. He represented the county of Lincolnshire, indicating that the name had spread and become well-established in England by that time.

Another notable individual with the surname Gillette was Jacques Gillette, a French merchant and explorer who lived in the late 16th century. He is believed to have been one of the first Europeans to establish trade relationships with the indigenous peoples of Canada.

In the 17th century, the name Gillette appeared in various records in New England, indicating that individuals bearing this surname were among the early settlers in the American colonies. One such person was Jonathan Gillette, who was born in 1636 in Windsor, Connecticut, and was a prominent figure in the local community.

During the 18th century, the surname Gillette was found in various parts of Europe, including France, England, and Germany. One notable individual was Jean-Baptiste Gillette, a French painter and engraver who lived from 1751 to 1827 and was known for his portraiture and historical paintings.

Throughout the 19th century, the surname Gillette continued to be prominent in various regions, including the United States and Europe. One famous individual was William Gillette, an American actor and playwright who was born in 1853 and is best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on stage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gillette

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

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

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

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