Gillespie (surname)

Surname list From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gillespie (/ɡɪˈlɛspi/ ghih-LES-pee[1][2]) is both a masculine given name and a surname in the English language. Variants include Gillaspie and Gillispie.

Origins

The given name is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Gille Easbaig (also rendered Gilleasbaig), meaning "bishop's servant".[3] The surname Gillespie is an Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Easbuig, and the Irish Mac Giolla Easpaig, both of which mean "bishop's servant's son".[4] The given name itself is ultimately derived from a word of Greek origin,[5] the Old Irish epscop being derived via the Latin episcopus from Greek επίσκοπος, epískopos, 'overseer'.[6]

An early example of the name in Scotland occurs in a charter dated 1175–1199, recording a certain "Ewano filio Gillaspeck".[5][7] In Ireland, a family bearing the surname occupied the office of toísech of Clann Aílebra in the late twelfth century.[8] In 1172, for example, the toísech was slain by Donn Slébe Ua hEochada, King of Ulster. This slain Mac Gilla Espuic may be identical to a certain Gilla Óengusa mac Gilla Espuic, rechtaire of the Monaig of Ulster, who is earlier recorded in the king's service.[9] Whatever the case, a later family bearing the surname appears on record as erenaghs of Kilraine in County Donegal. During the 16th and 17th centuries in Ireland, the surname was most common in Ulster.[8] During the nineteenth century in Ireland, the surname was most numerous in the counties of Antrim, Donegal, Armagh, and Tyrone.[10] Scottish Gaelic forms of the surname include GillEasbuig[11] and GillEasbaig.[12]

Gillespie

Fictional characters

  • Alessa Gillespie and Dahlia Gillespie, in the Silent Hill video game series
  • Chief Bill Gillespie, in the novel In the Heat of the Night and its film and television adaptations
  • Dr. Leonard Gillespie, in the Dr. Kildare and Dr. Gillespie film series
  • Rudy Gillespie, on the television series Kickin' It
  • Martin Gillespie, in the television series Byker Grove

Gillaspie

Gillispie

See also

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI