NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilliland

Derived from a place name meaning "servant of St. Giles' church land" in Old English and Scottish.

In the 1881 census there were 250 people recorded with the Gilliland surname, ranking it #11,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 813, ranked #6,817, up from #11,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington) and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Keppochhill, Chapelton, Glengavel and Sandford and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilliland is 818 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 225.2%.

1881 census count

250

Ranked #11,070

Modern count

813

2016, ranked #6,817

Peak year

2011

818 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilliland had 250 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 813 in 2016, ranked #6,817.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 355 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Gilliland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilliland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilliland 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 72 #20,720
1861 historical 88 #22,554
1881 historical 250 #11,070
1891 historical 225 #13,714
1901 historical 355 #10,329
1911 historical 240 #13,281
1997 modern 736 #6,974
1998 modern 747 #7,124
1999 modern 764 #7,039
2000 modern 785 #6,881
2001 modern 775 #6,815
2002 modern 786 #6,875
2003 modern 772 #6,848
2004 modern 772 #6,867
2005 modern 759 #6,894
2006 modern 758 #6,930
2007 modern 760 #6,978
2008 modern 765 #6,992
2009 modern 769 #7,108
2010 modern 813 #6,923
2011 modern 818 #6,820
2012 modern 792 #6,898
2013 modern 815 #6,832
2014 modern 818 #6,851
2015 modern 805 #6,907
2016 modern 813 #6,817

Geography

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Where Gillilands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington), Govan Combination, Toxteth Park and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Keppochhill, Chapelton, Glengavel and Sandford, Doncaster, Mauchline and Blackford, West Mains and Mayfield Road. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington) Durham
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Keppochhill Glasgow City
2 Chapelton, Glengavel and Sandford South Lanarkshire
3 Doncaster 003 Doncaster
4 Mauchline East Ayrshire
5 Blackford, West Mains and Mayfield Road City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilliland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilliland

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Gilliland is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gilliland is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gilliland falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gilliland 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gilliland

The surname Gilliland has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the lands of Gillyland or Gillielands in Wigtownshire. The name likely stems from the Gaelic "Gillie," meaning a servant or attendant, combined with the Old English word "land," referring to an area or territory.

In ancient Scottish records, the name appears in various spellings, such as Gillyland, Gillielands, and Gillieland, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

The Gillilands were a prominent family in the Scottish Borders region, with historical references indicating their involvement in local affairs and conflicts. Sir John Gilliland, born around 1550, was a renowned Scottish soldier who fought alongside King James VI and later served as a colonel in the Swedish army.

During the 17th century, the Gilliland name gained prominence in Ireland, particularly in County Antrim and County Down. It is believed that Scottish settlers and soldiers brought the name to Ulster during the Plantation of Ulster, a planned process of colonization by the English crown.

One notable figure was Reverend John Gilliland, born in 1649, a Presbyterian minister who played a significant role in the establishment of the Presbyterianism in Ireland. He was instrumental in founding the first Presbyterian congregation in Comber, County Down, and his descendants continued to be influential in the region.

Another notable Gilliland was Andrew Gilliland, born in 1690 in County Antrim. He was a prominent merchant and landowner who acquired substantial properties in Pennsylvania after emigrating to America in the early 18th century. His legacy includes the town of Gilliland, named after him, which is now part of Greene County, Pennsylvania.

In the 18th century, the Gillilands were among the many Scottish and Ulster-Scots families who emigrated to the American colonies, seeking new opportunities and religious freedom. James Gilliland, born in 1738 in County Antrim, served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and later settled in South Carolina.

Throughout its history, the Gilliland surname has been associated with various prominent individuals, including authors, politicians, and military leaders, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilliland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilliland 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. Lancashire leads with 53 Gillilands recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.83x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 53 1.83x
Lanarkshire 42 5.33x
Ayrshire 29 15.89x
Durham 26 3.58x
Renfrewshire 17 9.00x
Surrey 12 1.01x
Midlothian 11 3.37x
Cumberland 10 4.76x
Dunbartonshire 8 12.21x
Yorkshire 8 0.33x
Essex 6 1.25x
Lincolnshire 6 1.54x
Warwickshire 6 0.98x
Devon 5 0.99x
Middlesex 4 0.16x
Kent 2 0.24x
Fife 1 0.69x
Hampshire 1 0.20x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 2.83x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.30x
Somerset 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barrow In Furness in Lancashire leads with 19 Gillilands recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.28x.

Place Total Index
Barrow In Furness 19 48.28x
Toxteth Park 15 15.31x
Barony 13 6.51x
Govan 12 6.15x
Kilmaurs 12 385.85x
West Rainton 12 533.33x
Glasgow 11 7.86x
South Leith 11 29.92x
West Greenock 11 32.43x
Crook Billy Row 10 107.64x
West Kilbride 10 574.71x
Caldewgate 8 69.57x
West Derby 8 9.45x
Manningham 7 23.51x
Cardross 6 76.24x
Eastwood 6 51.55x
Leamington 6 147.06x
New Monkland 6 25.74x
West Ham 6 5.65x
Broughton In Salford 5 18.90x
Colyton 5 256.41x
Coningsby 5 446.43x
Lambeth 5 2.35x
Bermondsey 4 5.51x
Pelton 4 115.94x
Fenwick 3 309.28x
North Meols 3 10.59x
Wandsworth 3 12.78x
Dalry 2 23.28x
Dumbarton 2 21.93x
St Cuthbert W O 2 19.55x
St Pancras London 2 1.02x
Woolwich 2 6.51x
Alverstoke 1 5.53x
Bedminster 1 2.71x
Beith 1 18.35x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 4.35x
Brightside Bierlow 1 2.11x
Carnock 1 113.64x
Donington 1 71.43x
Islington London 1 0.42x
Largs 1 23.26x
Liverpool 1 0.57x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.93x
Newark Upon Trent 1 8.47x
Rerrick 1 66.23x
Tottington Lower End 1 7.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Jane 7
Margaret 7
Eliza 4
Elizabeth 4
Lucy 3
Sarah 3
Catherine 2
Emma 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Martha 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Carline 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Elinor 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Etty 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
George 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
John 1
Josephine 1
Lilitia 1
Minnie 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 15
John 9
William 8
Robert 7
Alexander 3
David 3
Henry 3
Thomas 3
Edwin 2
Fredk. 2
Hugh 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Basil 1
Cecil 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
George 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Joseph 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Gilliland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilliland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 250 people were recorded with the Gilliland surname. That placed it at #11,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilliland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 813 in 2016. That gives Gilliland a modern rank of #6,817.

What does the Gilliland surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "servant of St. Giles' church land" in Old English and Scottish.

What does the Gilliland map show?

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