Gillett Family History

English: when pronounced with a soft G (/dʒ/) it is usually from the Middle English (Old French) personal name Gillet, Gilot, Giliot, or Geliot. These are diminutives of Gille or Gilly, which are commonly pet forms of the (often female) name Gilian, Gelian (see Gillian). Gilot and Gillet are also probably pet forms of Giles.

English (of Norman origin): when pronounced with hard G it is more likely from the Middle English personal name Gilot, a borrowing of Old French Guillot, a pet form of Guillaume (see William) and a doublet of Willett.

English: habitational name from one or other of the numerous minor places called Gillhead such as those in the parishes of Matterdale, Moresby, Castle Sowerby, and Westward (all Cumberland), formed from Middle English gil(le) ‘ravine, narrow valley’ (Old Norse gil) + hed, heved ‘head’. This would become Gillett, with hard g.

English: sometimes perhaps a variant of Gillard. Altered form of French Gillet (usually) reflecting the Canadian and American French practice of sounding the final -t. Compare Gillette.