Gilliam Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Gilliam last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Gilliam coat of arms for you.
Meaning and origin of the Gilliam last name
Meaning of the Gilliam last name: from Guillaume (William). Gilliam comes from Guillaume, the Norman French form of William, brought to England after 1066. This surname kept the French sound, while most families settled on William. Today the last name is most common in Virginia and the Carolinas. Curiously, William joins old Germanic words for will and helmet.
Arms associated with the Gilliam name
Heraldry linked with the Gilliam surname uses a few strong colours, and each coat of arms has its own blazon.
Get your full Gilliam family history
This is only a glimpse of the Gilliam story. The full Gilliam history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Gilliam coat of arms. Get the full Gilliam report.
Gilliam name FAQ
What does the Gilliam name mean?
From Guillaume (William). Common variants include Gillam, Gilham.
Where does the Gilliam surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Gilliam coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Gilliam coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).