This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Gillening family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Gillening Family History

Gillening 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: Wilkening, Billing, Pilling, Gilling, Dilling, Willing, Piening

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gillening family from?

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gillening surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Family Insights Distribution Map

What Gillening family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Gillening. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gillening census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gillening

Passenger Lists

There are 642 immigration records available for the last name Gillening. 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 Gillening immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Gillening. For the veterans among your Gillening ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gillening military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gillening family history

Discover More

What is the average Gillening lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gillening 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 Gillening family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial