GILLESPIE

Gillespie is a surname of Gaelic and Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic phrase Mac Gille Easbaig, which literally translates as son of the bishop's servant. The name originally described an individual who worked as a servant or attendant to a bishop.

The earliest recorded forms of the surname date back to the pre‑10th century, with the earliest documented spellings appearing in the Medieval Irish Records of 1175. One such instance is that of Teag Mac Giolla Epscoip, a chief of Aeilabhra in the barony of Iveagh, County Down, during the reign of Rory O'Conor. The name spread from its Scottish roots into Ireland, where it is chiefly found in County Down, Ulster.

In Scotland the surname appears in the record of a man called Ewan Gillaspeck who witnessed a charter by Alwin, earl of Leven, around the year 1199. A later spelling, Guileaspos Cambell, is noted in 1360 when a member of the family invaded the county of Northumberland in England. These early instances illustrate the surname’s association with landholding and administrative roles.

Many Gillespies in Ireland served as erenaghs or hereditary landlords, managing lands associated with local churches. Their responsibilities often included the maintenance of church property and the collection of rents on behalf of ecclesiastical authorities.

Notable bearers of the surname include Sir Robert Rollo Gillespie (1766–1814), born in County Down, who had a distinguished military career in India before being killed in action. His service exemplifies the spread of the Gillespie name beyond the British Isles into the wider sphere of the British Empire.

The clan’s heraldic achievement features a silver shield emblazoned with a wavy chevron situated between three red roses. This blazon, granted to the Scottish Gillespie clan, is a traditional representation of the family’s status and heritage.

Throughout history the name has been recorded in several variant spellings, including Gillespie, Gillhespy, and earlier forms such as Mac Giolla Easpuig. These variations reflect the linguistic evolution of Gaelic names as they were transliterated into English orthography.

Typical given names associated with the Gillespie surname

Male

• Andrew
• David
• James
• John
• Mark
• Michael
• Paul
• Robert
• Thomas
• William

Female

• Anne
• Catherine
• Elizabeth
• Helen
• Karen
• Laura
• Linda
• Margaret
• Mary
• Nicola
• Sarah
• Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Gillespie in...

Braille

⠛⠊⠇⠇⠑⠎⠏⠊⠑

Morse

--....-...-.......--....

Semaphore

Surname type: From name of parent

Origin: Celtic

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: Ireland

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: Gaelic

Famous people named Gillespie

• Gary Gillespie - Scottish football player
• Bobby Gillespie - Musician
• Dana Gillespie - Actress, singer and songwriter
• Keith Gillespie - Football player
• Ronald Gillespie - Canadian inorganic chemist
• Robert Gillespie - Actor
• Grant Gillespie - Scottish professional football player
• Steven Gillespie - Football player
• Mark Gillespie - Football player
• Mark Gillespie - Singer
• Dennis Gillespie - Scottish football player (1936 to 2001)
• Peter Gillespie - Irish cricketer
• Ian Gillespie - Football player (1913 to 1988)
• Billie Gillespie - Scottish football player (1873 to 1942)
• Jimmy Gillespie - Scottish rugby union player (1879 to 1943)
• Robert Rollo Gillespie - Officer in the British Army (1766 to 1814)
• Matthew Gillespie - Scottish football player
• James Gillespie - Philanthropist (1726 to 1797)
• George Gillespie - Theologian (1613 to 1648)
• Thomas Gillespie - Scottish rower (1892 to 1914)

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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