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

Gillis, 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 Gillis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gillis in America

Gillis is the 1910th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gillis surname appeared 18,834 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Gillis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gillis 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 Gillis

The surname Gillis has its origins in Scotland, derived from the Scottish Gaelic personal name "Gille Iosa" meaning "servant of Jesus." It is believed to have emerged in the 13th century, particularly in the regions of Argyllshire and the Hebrides islands.

In early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Gillies, Gillise, and Gilleis, reflecting the phonetic nature of its Gaelic roots. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1264, where a man named Gilleis is mentioned.

During the 16th century, the Gillis surname gained prominence in the Clan Maclean, a prominent Scottish clan based on the Isle of Mull. Several notable individuals from this clan bore the surname, including Gillis Maclean, who was recorded as a Chief of the Clan Maclean in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Gillis surname began to spread beyond Scotland as individuals migrated to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the Americas. One notable figure was John Gillis (1662-1736), a Scottish-born poet and schoolmaster who settled in New England and became known for his poetic works.

Another significant figure was Archibald Gillis (1722-1796), a Scottish-born merchant and shipowner who played a crucial role in the maritime trade between Scotland and the American colonies. He later settled in Philadelphia and became a prominent member of the city's mercantile community.

In the 19th century, the Gillis surname gained further recognition with individuals like Daniel Gillis (1825-1880), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Canadian Parliament and played a role in the confederation negotiations.

John Gillis (1803-1868) was a Scottish-born journalist and author who emigrated to Canada and became known for his works on Canadian history and his advocacy for responsible government.

As the surname spread across different regions, variations in spelling emerged, such as Gilley, Gilly, and Gillies, reflecting local dialects and pronunciations. However, the core origin of the name remained rooted in its Scottish Gaelic heritage and association with the Clan Maclean.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gillis

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

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

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

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