UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "bishop's servant" or "servant of the church."
In the 1881 census there were 156 people recorded with the Gillispie surname, ranking it #15,114 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #15,114 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Larbert, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gillispie is 315 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.6%.
1881 census count
156
Ranked #15,114
Modern count
24
2016, ranked #36,392
Peak year
1901
315 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gillispie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gillispie surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 159 | #12,400 |
| 1861 | historical | 174 | #13,483 |
| 1881 | historical | 156 | #15,114 |
| 1891 | historical | 284 | #11,542 |
| 1901 | historical | 315 | #11,263 |
| 1911 | historical | 120 | #20,447 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 35 | #34,344 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 30 | #34,885 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 31 | #34,866 |
| 2003 | modern | 28 | #35,200 |
| 2004 | modern | 30 | #35,186 |
| 2005 | modern | 31 | #35,260 |
| 2006 | modern | 33 | #35,329 |
| 2007 | modern | 30 | #35,661 |
| 2008 | modern | 29 | #35,808 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 31 | #35,906 |
| 2011 | modern | 27 | #36,136 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 26 | #36,217 |
| 2014 | modern | 25 | #36,314 |
| 2015 | modern | 24 | #36,364 |
| 2016 | modern | 24 | #36,392 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Larbert, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Egremont and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Larbert | Stirling |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Egremont | Cumberland |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gillispie surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gillispie, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Gillispie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gillispie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Gillispie is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gillispie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gillispie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gillispie is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic "Gille Iosa" meaning "servant or follower of Jesus." The name can be traced back to the early medieval period in the Highlands of Scotland, where it was born by families who were devout Christians.
The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in the 14th century, with mentions of individuals bearing the moniker in various charters and legal documents from the region. One notable example is that of John Gillaspie, who was recorded as a landholder in Inveraray, Argyll, in 1376.
As the centuries progressed, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Gillespie, Gillespy, and Gillaspick emerging. These alternative spellings were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of local scribes.
In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the rise of the Gillespie family of Ardclach, a powerful clan in the Scottish Highlands. One of their most celebrated members was Reverend Patrick Gillespie (1617-1675), a prominent Scottish Presbyterian minister and theologian who played a significant role in the religious struggles of his time.
The name also had a presence in Scotland's historical records, with a mention of a John Gillespie in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1532. These rolls were financial records kept by the Scottish government, indicating that individuals bearing the surname were involved in the economic life of the nation.
As the Scottish diaspora spread across the globe, the name Gillispie traveled with them. One notable bearer was Sir Robert Gillespie (1766-1814), a Scottish-born British Army officer who rose to prominence during the Napoleonic Wars and served as the Commander-in-Chief of British forces in India.
Another influential figure was George Gillespie (1613-1648), a Scottish theologian and one of the Scottish Commissioners to the Westminster Assembly, which played a pivotal role in shaping the doctrines and practices of the Presbyterian Church.
In the literary realm, the name is associated with William Gillespie (1776-1825), a Scottish poet and author who gained recognition for his works such as "The Progress of Refinement" and "Consolation, and Other Poems."
While the name Gillispie has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by Scottish emigrants and their descendants. Its rich history and connection to notable figures in religion, military, and literature have solidified its place in the tapestry of Scottish heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gillispie surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 31 Gillispies recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.06x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 31 | 2.06x |
| Middlesex | 22 | 1.45x |
| Durham | 13 | 2.87x |
| Perthshire | 13 | 19.03x |
| Lanarkshire | 10 | 2.03x |
| Dumfriesshire | 8 | 23.80x |
| Essex | 6 | 2.00x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.33x |
| Renfrewshire | 6 | 5.09x |
| Angus | 5 | 3.55x |
| Kent | 5 | 0.96x |
| Sussex | 5 | 1.95x |
| Aberdeenshire | 4 | 2.84x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 1.34x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 1.23x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.78x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 1.76x |
| Inverness-shire | 2 | 4.40x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.38x |
| Kincardineshire | 1 | 5.40x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.49x |
| Roxburghshire | 1 | 3.63x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 5.52x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.41x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.19x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 1.78x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Carlton In Barnsley in Yorkshire leads with 19 Gillispies recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gillispie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gillispie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Gillispie households.
FAQ
In 1881, 156 people were recorded with the Gillispie surname. That placed it at #15,114 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Gillispie a modern rank of #36,392.
A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "bishop's servant" or "servant of the church."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gillispie bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.