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 Gillian family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Gillian Family History

Gillian Surname Meaning

English: from the Middle English and Old French male and female personal names Gillian, Gilion, Jilian, Gelian, all vernacular forms of Latin Julianus and Juliana (see Julian).

Irish (Antrim): shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Gileáin ‘son of Gileán’, a variant of the personal name Gealán, from a diminutive of geal ‘bright, white’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gillian family from?

You can see how Gillian families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gillian family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gillian families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 21 Gillian families living in Yorkshire. This was about 34% of all the recorded Gillian's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Gillian families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gillian surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Gillian ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gillian. 50% of Gillian men worked as a General Labourer and 86% of Gillian women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gillian were Electrician Wireman and Waitress.

View Census Data for Gillian | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    50%
  • Electrician Wireman
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    86%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    8%
  • Waitress
    8%

What Gillian family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 16,000 census records available for the last name Gillian. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gillian census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gillian

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Gillian. 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 Gillian immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Gillian. For the veterans among your Gillian ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gillian military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gillian family history

Discover More

What is the average Gillian lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Gillian life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1966. The average life expectancy for Gillian in 1958 was 53, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gillian

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

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