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

Gillman, 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 Gillman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gillman in America

Gillman is the 7663rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gillman surname appeared 4,334 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gillman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gillman 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 Gillman

The surname Gillman is of English origin, originating from the Middle English words "gill" meaning a ravine or deep glen, and "man" referring to a person. It is believed to have emerged as a descriptive surname for someone who lived in or near a ravine or deep valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gilleman." This entry suggests the surname was already in use by the late 11th century, indicating its ancient roots.

During the medieval period, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where many Gillman families were documented. The surname evolved over time, with various spellings such as Gilman, Gillman, and Gillman appearing in different regions.

Notable individuals bearing the Gillman surname include Sir Benjamin Gillman (1548-1621), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London. Another prominent figure was John Gillman (1677-1748), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of South Carolina from 1735 to 1737.

In the literary realm, James Gillman (1800-1881) was a notable English biographer and editor, best known for his work on the life and writings of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. William Gillman (1817-1878) was an English artist renowned for his landscape paintings, particularly those depicting the scenery of the Lake District.

Samuel Gillman (1832-1908) was a British naval architect and shipbuilder, responsible for designing several innovative vessels during the late 19th century. His contributions to the field earned him recognition and acclaim.

Throughout history, the Gillman surname has appeared in various records and documents, reflecting its longstanding presence in English society. While the name's origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, individuals bearing this surname have left their mark across diverse fields, from politics and administration to literature, art, and engineering.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gillman

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

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

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

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