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Gilkinson Family History

Gilkinson Name Meaning

probably a variant of Gilkison with intrusive -n-. Gilkison also spelled Gilkerson may have been re-formed as Gilkinson by a false analogy with northern surnames like Wilke(r)son a reduced form of Wilkinson . possibly an English patronymic ‘son of Gilkin’. With a hard pronunciation of initial G- the personal name might be a pet form of Gilbert. With a soft pronunciation of initial G- it would be a borrowing into Middle English of Gilquin the French version of Middle Dutch Gilkin (as in the 1296 citation) which was the common Flemish pet form of Giles. Many Flemings settled in England after the Norman Conquest. It may have given rise to the now lost surnames Gilkin and Gilkins as in Richard Gylekyn 1317–18 in Feet of Fines (Surrey); Richard Gylkyns 1332 in Subsidy Rolls (Worcs). Compare Gill .alternatively the English surname (if it has a soft G-) might be based on a pet form of the Middle English female personal name Gillian . Compare Gill .

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016

Similar surnames: Gilkison, Wilkinson, Dickinson, Gilkerson, Wilkison, Gilkeson

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Where is the Gilkinson family from?

You can see how Gilkinson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gilkinson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gilkinson families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 46 Gilkinson families living in Ontario. This was about 85% of all the recorded Gilkinson's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Gilkinson families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gilkinson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Gilkinson

What did your Gilkinson ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Gilkinson | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations In 1921

Farmer
60%
Laborer
40%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

Income
100%

Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Gilkinson family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Gilkinson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gilkinson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Gilkinson
Passenger Lists
There are 588 immigration records available for the last name Gilkinson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
View all Gilkinson immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 343 military records available for the last name Gilkinson. For the veterans among your Gilkinson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Gilkinson military records

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Gilkinson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gilkinson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Gilkinson

Passenger Lists

There are 588 immigration records available for the last name Gilkinson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gilkinson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 343 military records available for the last name Gilkinson. For the veterans among your Gilkinson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gilkinson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gilkinson family history

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What is the average Gilkinson lifespan?

Between 1968 and 2003, in the United States, Gilkinson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1971, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Gilkinson in 1968 was 80, and 76 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gilkinson

Browse profiles of historical people with the Gilkinson last name