Surname Gilstrap - Meaning and Origin
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Gilstrap: What does the surname Gilstrap mean?
Gilstrap is an English occupational surname, derived from the combination of the Old English words gill and strap. The word gill originally referred to an old English measure of land, while strap likely meant "metal cut or molded to shape." Put together, the combination of gill and strap likely meant "metalworker of land,” indicating that the original name-bearers likely serviced or mined the land.
Gilstrap is a fairly common name in the United States today. In particular, the surname is most commonly found in and around the Appalachian region, stretching from Alabama and Texas in the south, up to Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania in the north. The Appalachian Mountains were an area of significant immigration and settlement in the 18th and 19th centuries, which may explain its prevalence in this area.
Overall, the surname Gilstrap reflects the occupations of its original name-bearers. It likely indicates that they were metalworkers who toiled on the land of their peers. The prevalence of the name in Appalachia indicates that Gilstraps were generally strong, hardworking people who had to endure the harsh climate and environment of one the earliest settled areas of the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisGilstrap: Where does the name Gilstrap come from?
The last name Gilstrap is most common in the United States today. As of 2020, it was the 17,989th most common surname in the nation. Geographically, the name is most common in the South and West. Specifically, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia are the best-represented states for Gilstrap.
The name is also somewhat common in the UK, with around 600 people bearing the name. Regions known for having large concentrations of Gilstrap are Devon, Essex, London, Suffolk, and Hertfordshire.
The Gilstrap name is also present in Australia. It is estimated 45 people bear the surname and that the majority of them are in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
In terms of origin, the Gilstrap name has English heritage, and was first described in Scotland, in 1179. The family first settled in Durham, and the earliest mention of the name is found in that region. It has been suggested that the name derived from the words for “gill” (a small stream), and “strap” (a hillside).
The name has spread to many countries, and today has a far-reaching presence throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Gilstrap
The surname Gilstrap is derived from an old English given name, Gil(l)evert, which was made up of two elements – gil meaning “hostage” and evert meaning “brave” or “noble”.
The surname Gilstrap is also present in various spellings and/or variant names, including Gylstap, Gilstrap, Gylstrap, Gilstrapp, Gylstrapp, Gyllstrapp, Gilstrep, Gizzard, Gizzell, Gizel, Gissell, and Gilzear.
Gilstrap is a common surname in the United States and across Europe. It is believed to have originated in the UK as a patronymic surname created from the combination of the Gillette and man surnames meaning “son of Gillette”.
The surname Gilstrap is especially popular in the US, where it is believed to have been adopted by descendants of English settlers. It can also be found in the Netherlands, Canada, and Australia.
The variants of the surname Gilstrap are typically derived from the spelling variations of Gillette. For example, Gilstrep and Gilzear are the misspellings of Gillette. Gizzard, Gizzell, Gizel and Gissell are derived from an old English given name, Gilford.
The spelling of the given name and the surname can vary depending on the language and dialect. In Irish, the surname is spelled as Gillstrup or Gilstrup, whereas in Danish and Swedish, it is spelled as Gylstrup.
Gilstrap is also a common family name in Scotland, dating back to 1219 when the first recorded instance of the name was seen in the charters of Inverkeithing.
Regardless of the spelling or variant used, all variants of the surname Gilstrap share a common origin in the old English given name, Gil(l)evert.
Famous people with the name Gilstrap
- Phil Gilstrap: Phil Gilstrap is a retired American Major League Baseball player who played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, and San Francisco Giants.
- Haley Gilstrap: Haley Gilstrap is an American youtuber best known for her lifestyle and makeup videos on her own channel “Haley Glams”.
- Roger Gilstrap: Roger Gilstrap is an American actor who has appeared in movies such as “The Man in the High Castle”, “Scorpion”, and “No Strings Attached”.
- Sterling Gilstrap: Sterling Gilstrap is an American professional football player who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts.
- Jean Gilstrap: Jean Gilstrap is an American artist and sculptor best known for her animal sculptures and bronze statuettes.
- Roy Gilstrap: Roy Gilstrap is an American music producer and engineer who has worked with artists such as Counting Crows, Mariah Carey, and Jeff Buckley.
- Aaron Gilstrap: Aaron Gilstrap is an American photographer best known for his wildlife photography. He has published several award-winning books on the subject.
- Roger Gilstrap Jr.: Roger Gilstrap Jr. is an American pilot and test pilot best known for his aerospace engineering work on the Bell X-22 and other projects.
- Sarah Gilstrap: Sarah Gilstrap is an American actress best known for her roles in the television series “The Mentalist” and “Revenge”.
- Michael Gilstrap: Michael Gilstrap is an American poet and writer best known for his collection of poems “The Pit and the Heaven”.