A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gillan family of England.
Reg. 5002 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Chequy or and gu”
NorthumberlandNorthumberland, c. 1620
Where the Gillan Arms Were Recorded
Northumberland
Map of England showing where the Gillan arms are recorded
The Gillan arms were recorded in Northumberland, c. 1620.
Northumberland was border country facing Scotland, raided and fought over for three hundred years. Families held their land in return for defending it, and a defending household carried a shield.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Gillan arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Northumberland.
Origin & History of the Gillan Family in England
The surname Gillan has deep roots in the northern regions of Britain, with historical records confirming that members of the family were well-established in Northumberland by the year 1620. The name is widely considered to be of Gaelic origin, likely derived from the term *giolla*, which translates to a servant or a devotee. In the context of early naming traditions, this often indicated a person who was a follower of a specific saint, such as a devotee of Saint John or Saint Fillan. As families moved across the borderlands between England and Scotland, the spelling of the name evolved to reflect local dialects and regional pronunciations. By the early 17th century, the Gillans in Northumberland were part of a rugged frontier society that relied heavily on agriculture and local trade. Their presence in this area suggests they were integrated into the social and economic life of the northern counties during a time of significant transition for the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gille
Old Norse term meaning a servant or a lad.
This name
GillanDerived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Eáin, signifying a devotee or servant of Saint John.
also spelled
Gillan
Gylland
Gyllan
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
