Gillispie

Gillispie is a surname of Scottish and Irish origin. It is a variant of Gillespie, derived from the Gaelic Gille Easbuig, meaning "servant of the bishop." The name arose from the practice of creating descriptive surnames in medieval Gaelic-speaking regions and was later carried to other lands through emigration and settlement.

Spelling and distribution: Variants include Gillespie and Gillispie; the form Gillispie is relatively uncommon but is attested in genealogical and civil records. Today the surname can be found in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, reflecting patterns of Scottish and Ulster-Scottish immigration and diasporic movement.

Notable people: The most widely recognized bearer of the surname is Billy Gillispie (born 1959), an American college basketball coach who has led several NCAA programs. Beyond him, individuals with the Gillispie surname have appeared in various professions, though fewer have achieved prominent national or international recognition.

See also: Gillespie, a more common variant of the surname with its own articles and notable bearers. The name shares its origin with related surnames that reflect the same Gaelic roots and historical usage.