NameCensus.

UK surname

Gillis

Derived from the Irish Gaelic surname Mac Gille Íosa, meaning "son of the servant of Jesus."

In the 1881 census there were 607 people recorded with the Gillis surname, ranking it #5,775 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 666, ranked #8,017, down from #5,775 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duirnish, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cannock Chase, Conwy and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gillis is 675 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.7%.

1881 census count

607

Ranked #5,775

Modern count

666

2016, ranked #8,017

Peak year

1998

675 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gillis had 607 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,775 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 666 in 2016, ranked #8,017.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 607 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gillis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gillis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gillis 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 558 #4,543
1861 historical 597 #4,436
1881 historical 607 #5,775
1891 historical 458 #7,974
1901 historical 573 #7,321
1911 historical 534 #7,458
1997 modern 672 #7,476
1998 modern 675 #7,689
1999 modern 663 #7,825
2000 modern 674 #7,717
2001 modern 641 #7,878
2002 modern 659 #7,864
2003 modern 625 #8,060
2004 modern 624 #8,099
2005 modern 625 #8,018
2006 modern 615 #8,127
2007 modern 621 #8,140
2008 modern 622 #8,188
2009 modern 645 #8,129
2010 modern 668 #8,076
2011 modern 654 #8,115
2012 modern 661 #7,966
2013 modern 669 #8,021
2014 modern 672 #8,037
2015 modern 668 #8,009
2016 modern 666 #8,017

Geography

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Where Gillis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duirnish, London parishes, Gateshead, Glenelg and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cannock Chase, Conwy, Bury, Leeds and Bexley. 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 Duirnish Inverness
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Glenelg Inverness
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cannock Chase 007 Cannock Chase
2 Conwy 012 Conwy
3 Bury 026 Bury
4 Leeds 012 Leeds
5 Bexley 009 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gillis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gillis

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gillis, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Gillis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gillis household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Gillis is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gillis is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gillis falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gillis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gillis

The surname Gillis has its origins in Scotland, derived from the Scottish Gaelic personal name "Gille Iosa" meaning "servant of Jesus." It is believed to have emerged in the 13th century, particularly in the regions of Argyllshire and the Hebrides islands.

In early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Gillies, Gillise, and Gilleis, reflecting the phonetic nature of its Gaelic roots. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1264, where a man named Gilleis is mentioned.

During the 16th century, the Gillis surname gained prominence in the Clan Maclean, a prominent Scottish clan based on the Isle of Mull. Several notable individuals from this clan bore the surname, including Gillis Maclean, who was recorded as a Chief of the Clan Maclean in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Gillis surname began to spread beyond Scotland as individuals migrated to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the Americas. One notable figure was John Gillis (1662-1736), a Scottish-born poet and schoolmaster who settled in New England and became known for his poetic works.

Another significant figure was Archibald Gillis (1722-1796), a Scottish-born merchant and shipowner who played a crucial role in the maritime trade between Scotland and the American colonies. He later settled in Philadelphia and became a prominent member of the city's mercantile community.

In the 19th century, the Gillis surname gained further recognition with individuals like Daniel Gillis (1825-1880), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Canadian Parliament and played a role in the confederation negotiations.

John Gillis (1803-1868) was a Scottish-born journalist and author who emigrated to Canada and became known for his works on Canadian history and his advocacy for responsible government.

As the surname spread across different regions, variations in spelling emerged, such as Gilley, Gilly, and Gillies, reflecting local dialects and pronunciations. However, the core origin of the name remained rooted in its Scottish Gaelic heritage and association with the Clan Maclean.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gillis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gillis 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. Northumberland leads with 74 Gillis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.48x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 74 8.48x
Inverness-shire 70 39.98x
Durham 60 3.44x
Kent 46 2.30x
Surrey 44 1.54x
Lancashire 42 0.60x
Lanarkshire 39 2.06x
Middlesex 37 0.63x
Yorkshire 33 0.57x
Argyllshire 23 14.09x
Banffshire 16 13.16x
Fife 16 4.61x
Cornwall 13 1.96x
Angus 11 2.03x
Midlothian 10 1.27x
Dunbartonshire 5 3.17x
Gloucestershire 5 0.43x
Leicestershire 5 0.77x
Radnorshire 5 10.57x
Staffordshire 5 0.25x
Worcestershire 5 0.65x
Renfrewshire 4 0.88x
Hampshire 3 0.25x
Shropshire 3 0.59x
Somerset 3 0.32x
Sussex 3 0.30x
Warwickshire 3 0.20x
Morayshire 2 2.20x
Ross-shire 2 1.24x
Royal Navy 2 2.86x
West Lothian 2 2.27x
Ayrshire 1 0.23x
Devon 1 0.08x
East Lothian 1 1.29x
Essex 1 0.09x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.18x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x
Peeblesshire 1 3.63x
Roxburghshire 1 0.94x
Selkirkshire 1 1.89x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilmuir in Inverness-shire leads with 28 Gillis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 543.69x.

Place Total Index
Kilmuir 28 543.69x
West Derby 22 10.81x
Gravesend 15 88.55x
North Uist 15 219.62x
Lambeth 14 2.74x
Seghill 13 303.74x
Woolwich 13 17.59x
Barra 12 274.60x
Old Monkland 12 15.95x
Thornaby 11 50.67x
Cullen 9 199.56x
Prudhoe 9 148.27x
Rotherhithe 9 12.42x
Westoe 9 9.10x
Anstruther Easter 8 320.00x
Cowpen 8 39.82x
Madron Penzance 8 33.14x
Ryhope 8 66.06x
Camberwell 7 1.87x
Chelsea London 7 3.96x
Dalserf 7 37.00x
Harton 7 101.60x
Islington London 7 1.23x
Kilmallie 7 83.43x
Plawsworth 7 370.37x
Southcoates 7 21.71x
Wingate 7 58.53x
Bedlington 6 20.60x
Inveresk 6 28.22x
Longbenton 6 16.24x
Maryhill 6 16.16x
Newington 6 2.77x
Rathven 6 26.27x
Toxteth Park 6 2.55x
Ashby De La Zouch 5 33.18x
Beath 5 45.58x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 4.62x
Campbeltown 5 25.39x
Canterbury St Mary 5 37.26x
Dundee 5 2.47x
Frindsbury 5 66.31x
Kingussie Insh 5 124.38x
Linthorpe 5 14.42x
Lismore Appin 5 92.08x
Llandilo Graban 5 1000.00x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 9.60x
Ovingham Whittle Spital 5 378.79x
Shotts 5 22.04x
Skelmersdale 5 43.14x
South Shields 5 32.18x
St George In East London 5 9.07x
Wolverhampton 5 3.29x
Bermondsey 4 2.29x
Brightside Bierlow 4 3.51x
Cramlington 4 34.69x
Gateshead 4 3.06x
Plumstead 4 6.00x
St Just In Penwith 4 31.06x
Thornley 4 63.39x
Tudhoe 4 26.21x
Tynemouth 4 8.56x
Westminster St John 4 5.60x
Aston 3 0.74x
Chirton 3 15.20x
Cumbernauld 3 34.76x
Duirinish 3 33.63x
Govan 3 0.64x
Kings Norton 3 4.37x
Liff Benvie 3 3.64x
Mains 3 64.94x
N Lydbury 3 152.28x
North Seaton 3 81.97x
Pegswood 3 153.06x
Southwark St John 3 16.73x
St George Martyr London 3 25.27x
Tankersley 3 69.28x
Bromley London 2 1.55x
Kensington London 2 0.61x
Royal Navy 2 3.35x
Tibberton 2 285.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 40
William 27
Thomas 19
Robert 17
James 15
George 10
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Edward 5
Henry 5
Alexander 4
Matthew 4
Isaac 3
Jas. 3
Samuel 3
David 2
Ernest 2
Henery 2
Mathew 2
Richard 2
Rodger 2
Adrian 1
Albert 1
Alf. 1
Andrew 1
Archie 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Cuthbert 1
Dixon 1
E.Johnstone 1
Edmond 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Galbraith 1
Gilbert 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Richd. 1
Roger 1
Soloman 1
Stephen 1
Thompson 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Reg. 1

FAQ

Gillis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gillis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 607 people were recorded with the Gillis surname. That placed it at #5,775 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gillis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 666 in 2016. That gives Gillis a modern rank of #8,017.

What does the Gillis surname mean?

Derived from the Irish Gaelic surname Mac Gille Íosa, meaning "son of the servant of Jesus."

What does the Gillis map show?

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