NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilfillan

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic term "gille Fhaolain" meaning "servant or follower of St. Fillan".

In the 1881 census there were 585 people recorded with the Gilfillan surname, ranking it #5,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,358, ranked #4,439, up from #5,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Muirkirk. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardenden, Central Shetland and Blackburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilfillan is 1,358 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 132.1%.

1881 census count

585

Ranked #5,965

Modern count

1,358

2016, ranked #4,439

Peak year

2016

1,358 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilfillan had 585 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,358 in 2016, ranked #4,439.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 809 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Gilfillan surname distribution map

The map shows where the Gilfillan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Gilfillan surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gilfillan over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 389 #6,177
1861 historical 448 #5,777
1881 historical 585 #5,965
1891 historical 672 #5,804
1901 historical 809 #5,579
1911 historical 147 #18,104
1997 modern 1,218 #4,654
1998 modern 1,281 #4,635
1999 modern 1,274 #4,686
2000 modern 1,291 #4,606
2001 modern 1,262 #4,609
2002 modern 1,255 #4,721
2003 modern 1,236 #4,693
2004 modern 1,211 #4,780
2005 modern 1,222 #4,682
2006 modern 1,232 #4,671
2007 modern 1,258 #4,629
2008 modern 1,249 #4,680
2009 modern 1,295 #4,623
2010 modern 1,327 #4,611
2011 modern 1,309 #4,614
2012 modern 1,302 #4,571
2013 modern 1,329 #4,560
2014 modern 1,350 #4,524
2015 modern 1,347 #4,494
2016 modern 1,358 #4,439

Geography

Back to top

Where Gilfillans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Muirkirk, Glasgow and Cambusnethan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cardenden, Central Shetland, Blackburn, Summerston North and Cowdenbeath North. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Muirkirk Ayr
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Cambusnethan Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cardenden Fife
2 Central Shetland Shetland Islands
3 Blackburn West Lothian
4 Summerston North Glasgow City
5 Cowdenbeath North Fife

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gilfillan

These lists show first names that appear often with the Gilfillan surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gilfillan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gilfillan, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Gilfillan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Gilfillan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gilfillan is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gilfillan is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gilfillan falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gilfillan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gilfillan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gilfillan

The surname Gilfillan is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic personal name 'Gillafholain', which translates to 'the servant of St. Fillan'. St. Fillan was a renowned 8th-century Scottish abbot and saint, revered particularly in the Perthshire and Fife regions of Scotland.

The earliest known record of the name Gilfillan dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners and nobles who swore fealty to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence. One notable entry is that of Gillecrist Gylfillan, a landowner from the county of Perthshire.

During the Middle Ages, the Gilfillan family held lands in the parish of Alva, situated near the town of Stirling. Historical records indicate that in the 16th century, a branch of the family migrated to the Renfrewshire region, where they established themselves in the parish of Kilbarchan.

The name Gilfillan has been recorded with various spellings throughout history, such as Gilfillan, Gilfillen, Gilfillane, and Gilfillan. These variations likely arose due to the challenges of transliterating Gaelic names into English and the lack of standardized spelling conventions in earlier times.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the Gilfillan surname was Sir John Gilfillan, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century.

In the 17th century, Robert Gilfillan (1598-1676) was a prominent Scottish minister and theologian who played a pivotal role in the National Covenant of 1638, a key event in the struggle for religious freedom in Scotland.

George Gilfillan (1813-1878) was a Scottish author, poet, and literary critic who wrote extensively on literature and theology. He was widely respected for his literary works and served as a minister in the United Presbyterian Church.

James Gilfillan (1835-1916) was a Scottish-born American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the steel industry. He was a generous benefactor, contributing significant funds to educational institutions and charitable causes.

Lastly, Sir Colville Gilfillan (1891-1969) was a British Army officer who served with distinction during World War I and World War II, receiving numerous honors and decorations for his military service, including the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gilfillan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilfillan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 177 Gilfillans recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.69x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 177 9.69x
Stirlingshire 70 33.60x
Ayrshire 66 15.61x
Renfrewshire 45 10.28x
Dunbartonshire 39 25.70x
Fife 29 8.67x
Durham 26 1.55x
Midlothian 22 2.91x
Lancashire 21 0.31x
Clackmannanshire 17 36.45x
Perthshire 17 6.71x
Middlesex 14 0.25x
Surrey 10 0.36x
Roxburghshire 8 7.82x
Peeblesshire 5 18.82x
Angus 2 0.38x
Buteshire 2 5.84x
East Lothian 2 2.67x
Hampshire 2 0.17x
Kent 2 0.10x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.22x
Royal Navy 1 1.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 50 Gilfillans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.82x.

Place Total Index
Barony 50 10.82x
Govan 36 7.97x
Glasgow 33 10.17x
Muirkirk 22 221.55x
Cambusnethan 20 49.30x
Cardross 20 109.77x
Beath 17 160.83x
St Ninians 17 82.32x
Tillicoultry 16 154.14x
Abbey 15 22.46x
Stirling 13 49.51x
Comrie 12 331.49x
Ardrossan 11 75.19x
Kilmarnock 11 21.86x
Ballingry 10 485.44x
Barrow In Furness 10 10.97x
Carluke 10 60.28x
Cumbernauld 10 120.19x
Airth 9 339.62x
Campsie 9 78.74x
Denny 9 81.23x
Kirkdale 9 7.98x
Paisley Middle Church 9 35.32x
Westoe 9 9.45x
Wilton 8 71.30x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 2.30x
Heworth 7 21.14x
Larbert 7 56.22x
Old Monkland 7 9.66x
Tarbolton 7 100.57x
Bishopwearmouth 6 4.16x
Lochwinnoch 6 92.02x
Port Glasgow 6 28.36x
Hamilton 5 9.82x
Hampstead London 5 5.68x
Pettinain 5 714.29x
St Giles In Fields London 5 18.04x
Stobo 5 543.48x
Battersea 4 1.92x
Blairgowrie 4 39.88x
Croydon 4 2.62x
Drymen 4 143.37x
East Greenock 4 9.68x
Edinburgh New 4 68.03x
Lanark 4 27.21x
Shettleston 4 24.46x
Winlaton 4 24.81x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 15.58x
Edinburgh St Andrews 3 48.00x
Kirkmichael 3 77.92x
Old Cumnock 3 31.88x
Old Kilpatrick 3 16.72x
Westminster St John 3 4.36x
Ayr 2 10.03x
Coylton 2 33.33x
Dover St James 2 23.70x
Duddingston 2 13.17x
Dumbarton 2 9.47x
Dundonald 2 12.83x
Girvan 2 18.85x
Kilbride 2 47.51x
Killearn 2 91.32x
Paisley High Church 2 5.74x
Winchfield 2 281.69x
Bonhill 1 4.11x
Burnley 1 1.77x
Burntisland 1 10.70x
Clackmannan 1 11.34x
Covington 1 116.28x
Eastwood 1 3.71x
Hackney London 1 0.32x
Liff Benvie 1 1.26x
Liverpool 1 0.25x
Logie 1 11.00x
Ormiston 1 50.51x
Pencaitland 1 46.95x
Shotts 1 4.57x
South Leith 1 1.17x
West Greenock 1 1.27x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gilfillan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
Jane 5
Margaret 4
Isabella 3
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Charlotte 1
Doria 1
Elenor 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Helena 1
Hester 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gilfillan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 6
John 6
William 6
George 3
Henry 3
Thomas 2
Archibald 1
Charles 1
Hugh 1
Samuel 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Gilfillan households.

FAQ

Gilfillan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilfillan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 585 people were recorded with the Gilfillan surname. That placed it at #5,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilfillan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,358 in 2016. That gives Gilfillan a modern rank of #4,439.

What does the Gilfillan surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic term "gille Fhaolain" meaning "servant or follower of St. Fillan".

What does the Gilfillan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gilfillan bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.