NameCensus.

UK surname

Gillespie

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from Gaelic meaning "bishop's servant" or "servant of the church."

In the 1881 census there were 4,760 people recorded with the Gillespie surname, ranking it #932 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,470, ranked #679, up from #932 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and St. Ninians. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Paisley North East and Campbeltown.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gillespie is 9,692 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 98.9%.

1881 census count

4,760

Ranked #932

Modern count

9,470

2016, ranked #679

Peak year

2010

9,692 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gillespie had 4,760 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #932 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,470 in 2016, ranked #679.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,969 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Gillespie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gillespie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gillespie 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 2,636 #1,121
1861 historical 3,124 #925
1881 historical 4,760 #932
1891 historical 5,175 #909
1901 historical 5,969 #930
1911 historical 1,791 #2,734
1997 modern 8,583 #733
1998 modern 8,911 #735
1999 modern 9,003 #735
2000 modern 9,046 #729
2001 modern 8,757 #733
2002 modern 9,065 #731
2003 modern 8,828 #731
2004 modern 8,929 #721
2005 modern 8,962 #704
2006 modern 9,032 #700
2007 modern 9,056 #703
2008 modern 9,196 #698
2009 modern 9,400 #699
2010 modern 9,692 #687
2011 modern 9,526 #693
2012 modern 9,254 #703
2013 modern 9,359 #706
2014 modern 9,475 #699
2015 modern 9,433 #690
2016 modern 9,470 #679

Geography

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Where Gillespies are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Paisley North East, Campbeltown, Coatdyke and Whinhall and Paisley North West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 St. Ninians Stirling
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Kilchoman and Portnahaven Argyll

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 004 Copeland
2 Paisley North East Renfrewshire
3 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
4 Coatdyke and Whinhall North Lanarkshire
5 Paisley North West Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gillespie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gillespie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gillespie, 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 Gillespie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Gillespie 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gillespie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Gillespie 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

Gillespie 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 Gillespie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Gillespie

The surname Gillespie has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the late medieval period. It is a territorial name derived from the lands of Gillespie, located in East Lothian, near Edinburgh. The name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic "Gilleasbuig," which means "servant of the bishop."

The earliest recorded mention of the name Gillespie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. One of the entries in the Rolls is "Johan de Gyllesbyr," likely a variant spelling of Gillespie.

In the 15th century, the Gillespie family held lands in East Lothian and Fife, and their name appeared in various charters and legal documents of the time. One notable member of the family was Sir John Gillespie, who was appointed as a judge in the Court of Session in 1532.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Gillespies were prominent in the Scottish Reformation movement. Rev. George Gillespie (1613-1648), a Scottish minister and theologian, was a leading figure in the Presbyterian Church and a influential writer on religious matters.

In the 18th century, the Gillespies were involved in the Scottish Enlightenment. William Gillespie (1776-1825) was a renowned Scottish philosopher and mathematician, known for his contributions to the field of natural philosophy.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Rollo Gillespie (1766-1814), a Scottish military officer who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He played a crucial role in the capture of the Dutch colony of Java in 1811.

James Gillespie (1737-1805) was a Scottish tobacco merchant and philanthropist who established the Gillespie's Hospital in Edinburgh, a school for the education of poor children.

Throughout history, the surname Gillespie has been associated with various place names, such as Gillespietown and Gillespiehill, reflecting the family's landholdings and influence in Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gillespie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gillespie 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 1,194 Gillespies recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.97x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1,194 7.97x
Stirlingshire 427 24.99x
Lancashire 351 0.64x
Midlothian 302 4.87x
Renfrewshire 265 7.38x
Fife 201 7.33x
Aberdeenshire 192 4.48x
Durham 183 1.33x
Ayrshire 170 4.90x
Dunbartonshire 135 10.84x
Argyllshire 110 8.53x
Middlesex 107 0.23x
Angus 103 2.40x
Kirkcudbrightshire 102 15.21x
Northumberland 95 1.38x
Dumfriesshire 85 8.31x
Yorkshire 84 0.18x
Perthshire 79 3.80x
Kent 67 0.42x
Surrey 52 0.23x
Clackmannanshire 48 12.55x
Cumberland 43 1.08x
Kincardineshire 31 5.50x
West Lothian 28 4.01x
Wigtownshire 25 4.06x
Warwickshire 21 0.18x
Essex 20 0.22x
Gloucestershire 17 0.19x
Inverness-shire 15 1.08x
Staffordshire 14 0.09x
Cheshire 12 0.12x
Hampshire 12 0.13x
Roxburghshire 12 1.43x
East Lothian 11 1.79x
Berwickshire 10 1.78x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.16x
Lincolnshire 8 0.11x
Somerset 8 0.11x
Sutherland 8 2.25x
Flintshire 6 0.48x
Glamorgan 6 0.07x
Isle of Man 6 0.70x
Norfolk 6 0.08x
Orkney 6 1.18x
Peeblesshire 6 2.75x
Royal Navy 6 1.09x
Buteshire 5 1.78x
Cornwall 5 0.10x
Worcestershire 5 0.08x
Caithness 4 0.63x
Kinross-shire 4 3.42x
Suffolk 4 0.07x
Derbyshire 3 0.04x
Leicestershire 3 0.06x
Morayshire 3 0.42x
Selkirkshire 3 0.72x
Cardiganshire 2 0.18x
Devon 2 0.02x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.14x
Sussex 2 0.03x
Brecknockshire 1 0.11x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.03x

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 318 Gillespies recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.39x.

Place Total Index
Barony 318 8.39x
Govan 220 5.94x
Glasgow 191 7.18x
Falkirk 131 32.75x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 126 5.05x
Kilchoman 77 190.26x
St Ninians 75 44.28x
South Leith 64 9.16x
Rutherglen 61 27.75x
Larbert 54 52.87x
Denny 53 58.32x
Dundee 53 3.31x
New Monkland 53 11.97x
Maryhill 52 17.73x
Bothwell 50 12.31x
Dunfermline 50 11.86x
Urr 49 56.17x
Hamilton 47 11.25x
Kirkintilloch 47 27.79x
Aberdeen Old Machar 45 5.02x
Liverpool 45 1.35x
Old Monkland 45 7.57x
West Greenock 45 6.98x
Abbey 44 8.03x
Paisley Middle Church 35 16.74x
Bishopwearmouth 34 2.87x
Shotts 34 18.96x
Barrow In Furness 31 4.15x
Dalziel 31 19.23x
Alloa 30 16.17x
Polmont 29 45.97x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 28 3.49x
Cardross 28 18.73x
Kilwinning 27 24.12x
Toxteth Park 27 1.45x
Cathcart 26 13.39x
Stirling 26 12.07x
Gateshead 25 2.42x
Kirkcaldy 25 18.38x
Neilston 25 13.87x
Middlesbrough 24 4.01x
Turriff 24 34.66x
East Greenock 23 6.78x
Everton 23 1.31x
Cambusnethan 21 6.31x
Oldham 21 1.18x
Plumstead 21 3.99x
West Derby 21 1.31x
Dalmellington 20 19.62x
Cupar 19 15.93x
Foveran 19 58.50x
Liff Benvie 19 2.92x
Old Cumnock 19 24.61x
Dumbarton 18 10.39x
Girvan 18 20.68x
Manchester 18 0.73x
Tillicoultry 18 21.15x
Alva 17 20.86x
Douglas 17 39.35x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 17 2.85x
Newhills 17 19.35x
Salford 17 1.05x
Abbotshall 16 15.61x
Crossgate 16 26.55x
Greenwich 16 2.17x
Hackney London 16 0.62x
Kinghorn 16 27.49x
Wemyss 16 13.79x
Aston 15 0.47x
Fetteresso 15 16.97x
Islington London 15 0.33x
Kensington London 15 0.58x
West Ham 15 0.74x
Inverness 14 4.02x
Seghill 14 41.43x
Stranraer 14 24.88x
Campbeltown 13 8.36x
Southwick 13 9.96x
Kilbarchan 12 11.00x
Westgate 12 2.81x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 82
James 70
William 62
Thomas 36
Robert 35
George 21
Charles 20
Henry 18
Alexander 17
Peter 14
Joseph 11
Edward 10
Richard 10
Michael 9
Andrew 8
Francis 8
Frederick 7
Hugh 7
David 6
Samuel 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Archibald 5
Daniel 5
Patrick 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Mathew 4
Matthew 4
Adam 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Anthony 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Robt. 2
Alexr. 1
Beachamp 1
Bertis 1
Clifford 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Erskine 1
Foster 1
Frank 1
Josh.P. 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Gillespie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gillespie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,760 people were recorded with the Gillespie surname. That placed it at #932 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gillespie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,470 in 2016. That gives Gillespie a modern rank of #679.

What does the Gillespie surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from Gaelic meaning "bishop's servant" or "servant of the church."

What does the Gillespie map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gillespie 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.