Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • First Name Meanings
      • Last Name Meanings
      • Individual Records Search
      • Family Trees Support
      • Start a New Tree
      • Upload a GEDCOM
      Loading
      • Search All Records
      • Census & Electoral Rolls
      • Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish
      • Military
      • Wills & Probate
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Schools, Directories & Church Histories
      • Public Member Trees
      • Card Catalogue
      • Member Search
      Memories
      Loading
      • Register a kit
      • AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
      • Traits Learning Hub
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA® Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Blog
      • About Us
      • Site Map
      • Gift Memberships
      • Careers
        • Ancestry Corporate
        • Fold3.com
        • ForcesWarRecords.com
        • Geneanet.org
        • Newspapers.com
        • ProGenealogists.com
        • RootsWeb.com
      • © 2002-2026 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Cookies
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
      Group of people

      Meaning of the first name Gill

      Origin

      English

      Meaning

      Short for Gilbert or William.

      Variations

      Gilly, Gilles, Gillis
      The name Gill has its origins in the English language and is primarily used as a shortened form of the names Gilbert or William. In ancient times, personal names served to distinguish individuals in a society. Gill, derived from Gilbert, was a popular given name in medieval England, being of Germanic origin meaning bright pledge or genuine. The name William, on the other hand, derives from Old French and Old Germanic elements meaning determined protector or resolute helmet. As time passed, the shorter form Gill emerged as a common nickname or diminutive for individuals named Gilbert or William.

      Throughout history, the name Gill can be found in various contexts. In medieval England, individuals with the name Gill could be found among both the noble and common classes. As a nickname, it conveyed familiarity and was used affectionately among friends or family members. In modern-day usage, the name Gill is less common as a stand-alone name and is often used as a name. It can still be found as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia. However, its usage as a nickname for Gilbert or William has reduced over time, with more modern diminutives like Gil or Will being favored. Nevertheless, the name Gill retains a sense of history and lineage, with its origins firmly rooted in English names Gilbert and William.

      Based on our records...

      Smith

      Smith

      This is the most common surname associated with Gill.
      Mary

      Mary

      This is the most common name of those married to a Gill.
      Gill

      Gill

      This is the most common name for a child of a Gill.
      Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - © Mapbox - © OpenStreetMap - Improve this map

      What are you curious about?

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Start a free trial
      Order AncestryDNA
      calendar.webp
      Based on our records...

      Did you know?

      1873 is when there were the most people born with the first name Gill.

      Explore the origins of another name.