From Mac an ghoill (son of a stranger) according to Black in the Surnames of Scotland.
I didn't look it up. What Gaelic root word does "Gillie" come from? It wouldn't be the same one, I imagine but ... maybe? ... means something more like "servant", I would guess.
Those ancient U Nialls from Donegal were a randy bunch.
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Originally Posted by Ninehostages
I didn't look it up. What Gaelic root word does "Gillie" come from? It wouldn't be the same one, I imagine but ... maybe? ... means something more like "servant", I would guess.
As in 'Macgillichattan Mor' (son of the great servant of St Catan); Gilbride (the servant of St Bride); Gilchomedy (the Lord's servant); Gilchrist/Gilcrist (the servant of Christ); Gilfillan (servant of St Fillan); Gillanders (servant of St Andrew); Gillecallum (servant of Callum); Gillepatric (servant of St Patrick, not to be confused with Kilpatrick); Gillies/Gillis (servant of Jesus) -- in Badenoch the name was Malise, but meant the same thing; Gillespie (the bishop's servant); and on and on and on. Adherents of saints often gave saint's names to their sons in the medieval period. When they couldn't decide on a particular saint after whom to name the wee bairn, they might have called him Gille nan Naomh, (Gillenef, servant of the saints)
Sometimes it can really mean lad, as in Gilroy (the red-haired lad), Giltosh (Mackintosh of Dunachton's young messenger -- actually a Macniven).
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Originally Posted by neloon
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