Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
GILLESPIE
There are approximately 15,497 people named Gillespie in the UK. That makes it the 644th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 245 are named Gillespie.
Region of origin
British Isles
Country of origin
Ireland
Language of origin
Gaelic
Religion of origin
Christian
Classification
Celtic
From name of parent
Related and similar surnames
GlaspyGellespie
Gileispie
Gileaspie
Gilaspie
Gilasspie
Gilaspi
Gilesp
Gilesipe
Gilaspies
Gilesepie
Gilaspye
Gilaspey
Gilehespie
Gileispy
Giellespie
Gilaspe
Gilesipi
Gilaspia
Gilespa
Gilasppey
Gielespie
The Gillespie surname in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
The Gaelic for Archibald, from Gille, a youth or servant, and speach, a word expressive of quickness and sharpness in battle; spuaic, Gaelic, to break the head, to knock.
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
GILLESPIE. A corruption of GilleEsjniauj, Gaelic, "the Servant of the Bishop." It was originally spelt Gillespie, and frequentlj emploj'ed in the Highlands as a Christian name.
Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.