Gilbert Family History

Gilbert Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin) French and German: from the personal name Giselbert composed of the ancient Germanic elements gīsil ‘pledge, hostage, noble youth’ (see Giesel) + berht ‘bright, famous’.

This personal name enjoyed considerable popularity in England during the Middle Ages partly as a result of the fame of Saint Gilbert of Sempringham (1085–1189), the founder of the only native English monastic order.

Americanized form of one or more similar (like-sounding) Jewish surnames.

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

Similar surnames: Wilbert, Filbert, Hilbert, Albert, Guilbert, Milbert, Gimbert, Gilberg, Gilmer, Holbert

1M	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
143K	Military Records
89K	Immigration Records
931K	Census and Voter Lists
2M	Member Trees

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

Where is the Gilbert family from?

You can see how Gilbert families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gilbert family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gilbert families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2,694 Gilbert families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Gilbert's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Gilbert families in 1891.

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

View Census Data for Gilbert

What did your Gilbert 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 Gilbert. 7% of Gilbert men worked as a General labourer and 65% of Gilbert women worked as an Unpaid domestic duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gilbert were Gardener and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Gilbert

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.

General labourer

Bricklayer

Builders labourer

Gardener

Unpaid domestic duties

65%

Housewife

Unpaid domestic

Incapacitated

What Gilbert family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 931K census records available for the last name Gilbert. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gilbert census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gilbert

Passenger List

There are 89K immigration records available for the last name Gilbert. 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 Gilbert immigration records

Military Records

There are 143K military records available for the last name Gilbert. For the veterans among your Gilbert ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gilbert military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gilbert family history

Discover More

What is the average Gilbert lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Gilbert life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Gilbert in 1940 was 38, and 75 in 2004.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gilbert family tree

Explore Your Tree

Search for another surname

Gilbert Surname Meaning

Americanized form of one or more similar (like-sounding) Jewish surnames.

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

Where is the Gilbert family from?

What did your Gilbert ancestors do for a living?

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.

General labourer

Bricklayer

Builders labourer

Gardener

Unpaid domestic duties

65%

Housewife

Unpaid domestic

Incapacitated

What Gilbert family records will you find?

What is the average Gilbert lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Gilbert life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Gilbert in 1940 was 38, and 75 in 2004.

Gilbert Family History

Gilbert Surname Meaning

5 million record(s) for Gilbert

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

Where is the Gilbert family from?

What did your Gilbert ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Gilbert family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Gilbert family history

What is the average Gilbert lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gilbert family tree

Search for another surname

Gilbert Surname Meaning

5 million record(s) for Gilbert

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

Where is the Gilbert family from?

What did your Gilbert ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Gilbert family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Gilbert family history

What is the average Gilbert lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gilbert family tree

Search for another surname