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

Gilliland, 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 Gilliland surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gilliland in America

Gilliland is the 2698th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gilliland surname appeared 13,351 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Gilliland.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gilliland 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 Gilliland

The surname Gilliland has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the lands of Gillyland or Gillielands in Wigtownshire. The name likely stems from the Gaelic "Gillie," meaning a servant or attendant, combined with the Old English word "land," referring to an area or territory.

In ancient Scottish records, the name appears in various spellings, such as Gillyland, Gillielands, and Gillieland, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

The Gillilands were a prominent family in the Scottish Borders region, with historical references indicating their involvement in local affairs and conflicts. Sir John Gilliland, born around 1550, was a renowned Scottish soldier who fought alongside King James VI and later served as a colonel in the Swedish army.

During the 17th century, the Gilliland name gained prominence in Ireland, particularly in County Antrim and County Down. It is believed that Scottish settlers and soldiers brought the name to Ulster during the Plantation of Ulster, a planned process of colonization by the English crown.

One notable figure was Reverend John Gilliland, born in 1649, a Presbyterian minister who played a significant role in the establishment of the Presbyterianism in Ireland. He was instrumental in founding the first Presbyterian congregation in Comber, County Down, and his descendants continued to be influential in the region.

Another notable Gilliland was Andrew Gilliland, born in 1690 in County Antrim. He was a prominent merchant and landowner who acquired substantial properties in Pennsylvania after emigrating to America in the early 18th century. His legacy includes the town of Gilliland, named after him, which is now part of Greene County, Pennsylvania.

In the 18th century, the Gillilands were among the many Scottish and Ulster-Scots families who emigrated to the American colonies, seeking new opportunities and religious freedom. James Gilliland, born in 1738 in County Antrim, served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and later settled in South Carolina.

Throughout its history, the Gilliland surname has been associated with various prominent individuals, including authors, politicians, and military leaders, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gilliland

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

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

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

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