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Gilliam Family History

Gilliam Surname Meaning

English: from the Middle English personal name Gill(i)am Gillem Old French Guillaume a Parisian form of Will(i)am

(see William).

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gilliam family from?

You can see how Gilliam families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gilliam family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gilliam families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 68 Gilliam families living in Yorkshire. This was about 17% of all the recorded Gilliam's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Gilliam families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gilliam surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Gilliam ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer Heavy Worker and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gilliam. 25% of Gilliam men worked as a General Labourer Heavy Worker and 79% of Gilliam women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gilliam were Railway Wagon Builder H W and Domestic Worker.

View Census Data for Gilliam | 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 Heavy Worker
    25%
  • Builders Labourer
    25%
  • General Labourer
    17%
  • Railway Wagon Builder H W
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Unpaid Housewife
    3%
  • Cook
    2%
  • Domestic Worker
    2%

What Gilliam family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 72,000 census records available for the last name Gilliam. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gilliam census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gilliam

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Gilliam. 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 Gilliam immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 18,000 military records available for the last name Gilliam. For the veterans among your Gilliam ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gilliam military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gilliam family history

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What is the average Gilliam lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Gilliam life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Gilliam in 1942 was 53, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gilliam

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gilliam 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.

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