Surname Gillreith - Meaning and Origin
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Gillreith: What does the surname Gillreith mean?
The last name Gillreith is of Scottish origin and is believed to have developed from a Gaelic personal name of uncertain meaning. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic "giolla riabhach," meaning "gray-haired lad," or "giolla ridhe," meaning "servant of the King." Alternatively, it may derive from the Gaelic "gill," meaning "servant" or "giolla," meaning "boy."
Gillreith can be found in records dating back to the 15th century, when it was popularized by a family from Moray, Scotland. The Gaelic form of the name was Gille Riabhach and it was originally associated with the dukes of Moray. The name was adopted by a number of clans, including the Clan MacDiarmid and the Clan Anderson.
Variations of the name Gillreith include Gillreath, Gilreath, Gillereath, and Gilleray. It has remained fairly rare, especially outside of Scotland and its neighboring regions in the United Kingdom.
The summary of meaning behind the last name Gillreith is that it is a Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic personal name that is believed to mean "gray-haired lad" or "servant of the King." Its oldest records date back to the 15th century and it is believed to have been associated with the dukes of Moray and a number of clans, including the Clan MacDiarmid and the Clan Anderson. A variety of spellings can be found throughout the centuries and the name remains relatively rare even today.
Order DNA origin analysisGillreith: Where does the name Gillreith come from?
The last name Gillreith can be found in many parts of the world today, although it appears to be most common in the United Kingdom. Many records show that the name originated in Scotland, with the earliest recordings of the name being found in Aberdeen. From this origin, the name can be found across both Scotland and England, though there is some suggestion that it may have made its way to Ireland.
Outside of the UK, the name can be found in areas of Europe and North America, including The Netherlands, Germany, Canada, and the United States. It is also present in other areas of the world, such as Australia, Belgium, and more.
In the United States specifically, the 2010 United States Census found that the last name Gillreith was the 8,910th most common last name in the nation. It was most commonly associated with the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and California, though it was also present in other states such as Illinois, Virginia, and Texas.
Overall, the last name Gillreith is found in various parts of the world, though it is most commonly found among English-speaking countries. The name is relatively rare, but with the right amount of effort, can be found in many places.
Variations of the surname Gillreith
The surname Gillreith originates from the Old Gaelic words "gille" which means "servant" and "riaghail" which means "of the king". It is sometimes spelled as Gillreath, Gillreth, Ghylograph, Gylrayth, Gilruth, Gylreth, Gylreth, Gillrath, and Gilloreth.
The surname is quite common in the United Kingdom and Ireland and appears to have been derived from a family associated with a royal court. It could also be derived from a place-name with similar origins.
The spelling of the surname changed many times over the hundreds of years as different branches of the family developed or married into other families. It has also been subject to regional dialects and pronunciation changes.
In some cases, the surname has been adapted as first names, such as Gillereath or Gillreath. This resulted in some people taking the name as a given name instead of a surname. Some Mary's and Elizabeth's also changed their names to Gillreath occasionally, and the spelling for the surname preceded the first name.
Other variants of the surname include Gilreath, Gillryth, and Gylrayth. These come from similar, though less-documented, Gaelic names which mean “servant” or “servant of the king”.
Due to the phonetic nature of many languages, related surnames and spellings can vary geographically. This includes Gillrayth, which is an older spelling of the name and used mainly in Scotland, and Gillereath, which is an older version that is used almost exclusively in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Famous people with the name Gillreith
- Peter Gillreith: a British artist and sculptor whose work has been featured in museums and galleries in Europe, the United States and South America. He is a contemporary artist whose works often explore both the physical and metaphysical aspects of physical identity.
- John Gillreith: a former Canadian ice hockey player who played in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Rockies and Calgary Flames. During his career, he won the NHL's Lady Byng Memorial Trophy and earned an All-Star selection.
- Robert Gillreith: an American writer, director and producer of television series and feature films. His work includes the “Back to the Future” trilogy and executive producer of the television series “Family Ties”.
- Mac Gillreith: an Australian-born artist who has been exhibited in galleries and museums in the United States and Australia, and participated in international art fairs. His artwork is inspired by for example Buddhism and his experiences living in Australia, which includes elements of Abstract Expressionism, Figurative painting and Cubism.
- Toni Gillreith: an English actor and writer known for her roles on the West End, Off-Broadway and regional theatre. She has appeared in numerous television series as well, including “Stargate: Atlantis”, “Firefly” and “Grey's Anatomy”.
- Polly Gillreith: an English artist and comedian who became a prominent figure in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the 1970s. She often included improvisation and audience interaction in her performance work, as well as a variety of improvisatory sketches and skits.
- Bill Gillreith: an American actor who appeared in more than 150 films and television series over the course of his long-time career. He is best known for his roles in the western TV series “Rawhide” and motion pictures such as “The Godfather Part III”.