Gillings

Gillings is a Scottish surname of English and Scottish origin. The name is derived from the Old English and Old Norse words "gil" or "gill", meaning a narrow stream or a ravine, and the patronymic suffix "-ings" or "-sons", indicating descent. The suffix "-ings" was commonly used in medieval England to form surnames, signifying a family or group of people.

In the historical records, the Gillings family is first mentioned in the 13th century in Yorkshire, England. During the Middle Ages, the family likely resided in the North Riding of Yorkshire, where many English families bore similar surnames of placename origin. As the word "gill" is also present in Scottish geography, it's plausible that the Gillings family also inhabited Scotland.

Throughout the centuries, various spelling variations of the surname have emerged, including Gillen, Gilling, and Gillans. Additionally, the Gillings family has adopted other surnames, such as Gillingham, which also originated from "gill" and "ham", an Old English enclosure.

Commonplace among English and Scottish surnames, Gillings is not uncommon among contemporary surnames worldwide. Historical and demographic records reveal that during the 17th to 19th centuries, England and Scotland experienced significant migration and settlement. Consequently, the surnames, including Gillings, have been dispersed and distributed extensively.

It is essential to distinguish that the lineages of Gillings and Gillen surnames do not necessarily tie back to a single source or origin. Both names could conceivably stem from different English dialects or Scottish usages.