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Gilis Family History

Gilis Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Giles, Gillis, Gilio, Gills, Golis, Gill, Miles, Melis, Lis, Gioia

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gilis family from?

You can see how Gilis families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gilis family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gilis families were found in USA in 1920. In 1841 there was 1 Gilis family living in Argyll. This was about 50% of all the recorded Gilis's in Scotland. Argyll and 1 other county had the highest population of Gilis families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gilis surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1841
  • 1851
  • 1881
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What did your Gilis ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Gilis. 34% of Gilis men worked as a Farmer.

View Census Data for Gilis | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    34%
  • Laborer
    28%
  • Machinist
    17%
  • Fisherman
    12%

What Gilis family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Gilis. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gilis census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gilis

Passenger Lists

There are 530 immigration records available for the last name Gilis. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gilis immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 137 military records available for the last name Gilis. For the veterans among your Gilis ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gilis military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gilis family history

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What is the average Gilis lifespan?

Between 1970 and 1999, in the United States, Gilis life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1970, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Gilis in 1970 was 51, and 96 in 1999.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gilis

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gilis ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gilis family tree

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