Gilliland Surname - Its mandatory to know where a person came from and to know the past history of their family. With the knowledge of a family past comes the honor of the families future. In my research I found hundreds of families that disappeared from the face of the earth not to be seen or heard of again. Our family should be heard and always seen though the eyes of our children. As parents we should teach children to respect their family history. Shall we let the works of our past kinsman go to waste or shall we keep up the records of our wide spread clan to bring together family we have never seen or heard of.

The Gilliland name or MacGill'fhaolain in our gaelic language comes from Scotland our true home. The variations of the name Gilliland as follows: MacGill'fhaolain , Mcgill'olane , Macgillelane , Gilliand , Gilleland , Gilland , MacGill'fhaolain means " son of servant " the MacGill'fhaolain clan were followers of a Saint Fillon ( Fallon ) . The word Gill in archaic form means royalty ( Of the land ). Note the word "Gill" not Gille two different meanings. The Gilliland or MacGill'fhaolain clan lived in the middle of Scotland. Over the years different lines of the family change the spelling of there name to make pronunciation simple.  Also some families could not spell so it made signing there name less stressful. The Gilliland's have survived many wars and many cultures trying to take or change there ways and customs.

St. Fillan (Fhaolain, Foelan) was the son of St. Kentigerna and Feriach. was also known as Foelan.
He became an abbot near St. Andrews in 8th Century Scotland. He retired and built a church at Glendochart in Perthshire. "Source (The Saints, John Coulson, Hawthorne Books, NY) He died on 
19 January, 703 A.D. His feast day is January 19.

Gille is an ancient Gaelic prefix meaning steward, disciple, follower, or son of . the surnames Gilliland, Gilfillian, Gilleland, McClelland, MacLelland, Leland, Whelan and Phelan all mean disciple of St. Fillan (which means "little wolf.") The root word is Mac-Giolla-Fhaolain (Gaelic). The Gillilands and the MacLellands, along with the MacRaes, were the arms bearers (warriors) for the McKenzie Clan in Rosshire for eight centuries. (American Surnames, Elsdon Smith, Chilton Co, 1969) This information was email to me and the address could not be return , The Gilliland site thanks you for you contributions.

From the author, there are different spellings for names and places because of the lack of keeping
good records or how the word sounds is how people would spell it. You will find in any research
that gaelic names are spelled two or three different ways. Do not be discouraged in your research. 
You will always have to cross reference your work.

I will be uploading an ancient dictionary from the 7th century for terms and explanations. You will find that many words relate to the same content.

Cousin Clans

Clan McNab  - Badge: The head of a male savage
     Motto: Timor omnis abesto - "Let fear be far from all" 
     Tartan: MacNab (current); MacNab (ancient); Chief's Tartan 
     Gaelic Name: Mac an Aba 
     Plant Badge: Heath, Pine, Crowberry, Bramble 
     Septs:Abbot, Abbotson, Abbott, Cleland, Clelland, Dewar, Gilfillan, Gillan, Gilland,
   Gilliland, MacAndeoir, MacClelland, MacLellan, MacLelland, MacNab, MacNabb,
     MacNail. 

The Clan MacLennan
Arms: Or, a heart Gules between two passion nails conjoined in base Sable, on a chief Azure a stag's head cabossed between two antique crowns, all of the First. 
Badge: A demi-piper all Proper, garbed in the proper tartan of the Clan MacLennan 
Motto: Dum spiro spero (Latin: While I breathe, I hope) 
Tartan: MacLennan & Logan (modern), Ancient, Weathered 
Assoicated Names & Septs: Gilfiman, Gillfiman, Gilfillian, Gilliland, Lagan, Laggan, Lenan, Lennan, Lennon, Leonard, Leonerd, Loban, Lobban, Logan, Loggan, Lyndon, MacAlenon, MacAlinion, MacAlinden, MacAlonan, MacClanachan, MacClanchan, MacClaron, MacClennen, MacClendon, MacGilillan, MacKilligan, MacLarnon, MacLenagan, MacLenahan, MacLenadhan, MacLenden, MacLendon, MacLennon, MacLernon, MacLoran, MacLorinan, MacLyndon, MacWilname, McClenaghan, McClendal, McClendas, McClendon, McLandon, McLendall, McLendon, McLennon, MackLenddon, MackClenden, MackLendin, MackLendon, MacLendall, Meclendon, Mclendon, Winan, Winning, and Winton 

The Clan MacLellan
Arms:: MacLellan, Lord Kirkcudbright 
Badge: A naked arm supporting on the point of a sword a mor's head Proper. 
Branches: Airth, Clackmannan, Kennet, Kinnaird. 
Tartans: MacLellan, Dress, Hunting 
Motto: Think on; Superba frango ( I break down proud things) 
 
 

John Gilliland - ( Iain MacGill'fhaolain )of Scotland. John was born about 1662 in Scotland. Probably grown up as farmer and learn the leather trade as he went along. Our story starts with the earliest mentioning of John in Monmouth's rebels.  To understand the whole issues around the battle ,  Please read the battle of Monmouth ,Monmouth rebels Dorset and Somerset rebellion in your local libraries , and the Monmouth rebellion: a social history by W. MacDonald Wigfield (main author). subject is Monmouth's rebellion , 1685 , language : english , publication : Bradford-on-avon : Moonraker copyright 1980 Totawa , New Jersey : Barnes & Noble , Physical: 176 p. : ill., maps , ports. Also in the family history library in Salt Lake City. Call number 942.3 H2w ) in the british section ,  in the lower level of the FHL library. FormatBooks/Monographs.

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