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

Gilman, 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 Gilman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gilman in America

Gilman is the 3003rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gilman surname appeared 11,946 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 Gilman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gilman 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 Gilman

The surname Gilman originated in England, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be a variant of the name Gillman, derived from the Old English personal name Gilla, meaning "servant." The suffix "man" was commonly added to such names during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gilman name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gilleman." This historical record suggests that individuals bearing this surname were present in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name was recorded in various forms, including Gilman, Gillman, and Gylman. These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and spellings used at the time. The surname was particularly prevalent in counties like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.

Gilman is also associated with several place names in England, such as Gilmanby in Yorkshire and Gilmanroad in Norfolk. These locations may have influenced the development and spread of the surname within their respective regions.

One notable bearer of the Gilman name was John Gilman (c. 1565-1638), an English clergyman and one of the earliest settlers of Hingham, Massachusetts. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Puritan colony in New England.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Gilman (1698-1787), a colonial leader and merchant from Exeter, New Hampshire. He served as a member of the Provincial Congress and was involved in the American Revolutionary War.

In literature, Arthur Gilman (1837-1909) was a renowned American author and poet, best known for his works "The Story of Boston" and "The Story of Rome."

The Gilman surname also graced the field of academia with Daniel Coit Gilman (1831-1908), an American educator and the first president of Johns Hopkins University. His contributions to higher education were instrumental in shaping the modern research university model.

Finally, Laura Gilman (born 1967) is a contemporary American author of fantasy and science fiction novels, including the Vineart War and Paranormal Scene Investigations series.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the Gilman surname throughout history, highlighting its enduring presence across various walks of life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gilman

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

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

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

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