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

Gillyard, 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 Gillyard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gillyard in America

Gillyard is the 34967th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gillyard surname appeared 645 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Gillyard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gillyard 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 Gillyard

The surname Gillyard is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a specific place or geographical feature. One possible origin is the Old English word "gill," which referred to a deep, narrow valley or ravine, and "geard," meaning an enclosed or fenced area.

The earliest known record of the surname Gillyard can be traced back to the late 13th century, where it appeared as "de Gilliarde" in the Hundredorum Rolls of Yorkshire. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with a particular location or estate in that region.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "Gilliard," "Gylliard," and "Gilyard," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common in those times. Some historical documents from this period include references to individuals bearing the name Gillyard, although specific details about their lives and occupations are limited.

One notable individual with the surname Gillyard was John Gillyard, who lived in the 16th century and served as the Sheriff of Norfolk in 1586. Another was William Gillyard, a merchant from London who was involved in trade with the East Indies in the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Gillyard family had established themselves in various parts of England, with some members holding positions of influence in their local communities. For example, Thomas Gillyard was a prominent landowner and Justice of the Peace in Yorkshire, born in 1714.

As the centuries progressed, the Gillyard surname spread across different regions of England and beyond, with some members of the family migrating to other parts of the British Isles and even to colonial settlements in North America and Australia.

Other notable individuals with the surname Gillyard include:

1. Edward Gillyard (1815-1892), an English architect and surveyor known for his work on public buildings and churches in the Victorian era.

2. Mary Gillyard (1856-1938), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and participated in the Women's Social and Political Union.

3. Robert Gillyard (1890-1971), a British soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valor in the British Armed Forces, for his actions during World War I.

4. Elizabeth Gillyard (1909-1993), an Australian painter and printmaker, known for her landscape and still-life works, and her contributions to the development of modern art in Australia.

5. James Gillyard (born 1963), an American actor best known for his roles in television series such as "The Wire" and "Oz."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gillyard

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

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

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

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