Scottish
Scottish and Irish: reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Gille Easbuig (Scottish), Mac Giolla Easpaig (Irish), patronymics from a byname meaning ‘servant of the bishop’.
What clan is Gillespie from?
The connection between this earlier record and the MacPherson line is vague and uncertain but most historians agree that the Gillespie are of the Clan Chattan.
What does Gillispie mean?
The roots of the name Gillispie are found among the Pictish clans of ancient Scotland. The name comes from the Gaelic name Gilleasbuig, which means the bishop’s servant. Patronymic names often substituted the name of a saint or other revered religious figure in place of a devout bearer’s actual father.
Is Gillespie Scottish?
The surname Gillespie is an Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Easbuig, and the Irish Mac Giolla Easpaig, both of which mean “servant of the bishop”. The given name itself is derived from a word of Latin origin.
How common is the last name Gillespie?
Gillespie Surname Distribution Map
| Place | Incidence | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 57,152 | 1:6,342 |
| England | 7,428 | 1:7,501 |
| Canada | 6,428 | 1:5,732 |
| Australia | 5,819 | 1:4,639 |
Did Clan Chattan fight at Culloden?
The aftermath of the defeat of the Jacobite army at Culloden radically changed the nature of the Highlands of Scotland, and Clan Chattan took heavy losses. One of the main consequences was that clans which had hitherto been members of the Confederacy broke away to follow their own destinies.
Do you not touch the cat but the glove?
The clan motto is ‘Touch not the cat bot a glove’. ‘Bot’ means without. If the cat is ‘ungloved’, its claws are unsheathed. The motto serves as a warning that one should beware when the wildcat’s claws are ‘without a glove’.
What is the Gillespie tartan?
A smart, light coloured tartan which can be worn by both men and women, although it would carry, especially with the white base, the preference of women for their sash and frock. This plaid is claimed as a ‘Gillespie’ by Scott Adie, and is registered as #1361 on the House of Tartan website.
What nationality is the last name Gillespie?
The surname Gillespie is an Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Easbuig, and the Irish Mac Giolla Easpaig, both of which mean “servant of the bishop”. The given name itself is derived from a word of Latin origin. Specifically, the Old Irish epscop being derived from the Latin episcopus.
What is the meaning of Gill Gillespie?
Gillespie (/ ɡɪˈlɛspi /) is both a masculine given name, and a surname in the English language. The given name is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Gille Easbaig (also rendered Gilleasbaig), meaning “bishop’s servant”.
What does Gillaspie mean in Gaelic?
The name Gillaspie is derived from the Gaelic name Gilleasbuig, which means the bishop’s servant. The Gaelic word easbuig is borrowed from the Latin word episcopus, which means bishop. Patronymic names often substituted the name of a saint or other revered religious figure in place of a devout bearer’s actual father.
Where were the most Gillespie families found in the USA?
The most Gillespie families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 56 Gillespie families living in New York. This was about 20% of all the recorded Gillespie’s in the USA. New York had the highest population of Gillespie families in 1840.
