Gillis

Gillis is both a surname and a given name of European origin. It derives from the medieval given name Gilles, a form used in Dutch, Flemish, and Francophone regions. As a surname, Gillis most often originated as a patronymic, indicating “son of Gilles” or “descendant of Gilles.” The name has a long history in the Low Countries and has spread to other parts of the world through migration.

In contemporary usage, Gillis remains most common in Belgium and the Netherlands, where it appears in civil records and modern registries. It is also found among diaspora communities in Canada and the United States, especially among families with Dutch, Flemish, or French ancestry. As a given name, Gillis persists in Flemish-speaking areas and sometimes appears in combination with other given-name forms in regional naming practices.

Variants of the name include Gilles (French) and other spellings found in Dutch or Flemish records. In Anglophone contexts, the surname may appear alongside related forms such as Gill and Gillespie, which share a common lineage with the given name Gilles.

Notable people bearing the surname Gillis span fields such as politics, sports, and the arts; the given name Gillis remains in use within Flemish communities. The name also appears in historical records and genealogical sources as a marker of regional heritage and lineage.