The Ancient History of the Surname Giles
The ancient chronicles of England reveal the early records of the
name Giles as a Norman surname, which ranks as one of the oldest. The history of
the name is closely interwoven into the majestic tapestry, which is an intrinsic
part of the history of Britain.
In-depth research by skilled analysts into ancient manuscripts such as
the Doomsday Book (Compiled in 1086 by William the Conqueror), the Ragman Rolls,
and the Wace poem, the Honor Roll of the Battle Abbey, the Curia Regis, Pipe
Rolls, the Falise Roll, tax records, baptismal records, family genealogies,
local parish and church records shows the first record of the name Giles was
found in Lincolnschire where they had been granted lands by King William after
the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D.
Many alternate spellings were found in the archives researched, typically
linked to a common root, usually one of the Norman nobles at the Battle of
Hastings. Although the name Giles, occurred in many references, from time to
time the surname included Giles, Gyles, Jiles, and these changes in spellings
frequently occurred, even between father and son. Scribes recorded and spelled
the name as it sounded. Typically a person was born with one spelling, married
with another, and buried with a headstone, which showed another. All three
spellings related to the same person. Sometimes preferences for different
spelling variations either resulted from branch of preference, religious
affiliation, and sometimes-nationalistic statements.
The family name Giles is believed to be descended from the Norman race,
frequently but mistakenly assumed to be of French origin. They were more
accurately of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern
Scotland about the years 870 A.D., under their King, Stirguid the Stout. Thorfin
Rollo, his descendent landed in Northern France about the year 940 A.D. The French King, Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid siege
to Paris, finally conceded defeat and granted Northern France to Rollo. Rollo
became the first Duke of Normandy, the territory of north man. Rollo married
Charles’ daughter and became a convert to Christianity. Duke William, who
invaded and defeated England in 1066, was the descendant from the first Duke of
Normandy.
Duke William took a census of most of England in 1086, and recorded it in
the Doomsday Book. A family name capable of being traced back to this
manuscript, or to the Hastings, was a signal honor for most families during the
middle ages.
The surname Giles emerged as a notable family name in the county of
Lincoln. The Giles family name, also spelled Gyles and Jiles, is derived from
the 7th century provincial hermit, St. Aegidius, whose name was then
adopted as the French surname, Gili and Gile. The Giles name was brought to
England with the Norman Invasions and first appeared in the Doomsday book, as
Gilo is 1086. Gillis Croswell was recorded in a census of landowners in
Lincolnshire in 1273. William Guyles acquired lands and estates in Sussex in
1296. William Giles purchased land in Kent in 1317, and Nicholas Giles settled
in Suffolk in 1346. The family soon moved north and by the 14th
century the Giles name was found in Kailzie in Pebbleshire, Scotland. Meanwhile
the English family seat was established at White Ladies, Aston in
Worcestershire, and the Giles flourished in England until the end of the middle
ages. Notable amongst the family at this time was Giles of Lincolnshire.
The surname Giles contributed much to local politics and in the affairs
of England or Scotland. During the 11th and 12th centuries
many of these Norman families moved North to Scotland. Later, in the 16th,
17th, and 198th centuries England was ravaged by political
and religious conflicts. The monarchy, the Church and Parliament fought for
supremacy. Religious elements vied for control, the state Church, the Roman
Catholic Church and the Reform Church. All, in their time, made demands on the
rich and poor alike. They broke the spirit of men and many turned from religion,
or alternatively, renewed their faith, pursuing with vigor and ferocity the
letter of the Ecclesiastical law. Many families were freely “encouraged” to
migrate to Ireland, or to the “colonies”. Non-believers or dissidents were
banished, sometimes hanged.
The settlers in Ireland became known as the “Adventurers for land in
Ireland”. They undertook to keep the protestant faith. In Ireland the family
settled in county Louth and county Galway in the 17th century.
The democratic attitudes of the new world spread like wildfire. Many
migrated aboard the fleet of sailing ships known as the “White Sails”. The
stormy Atlantic, small pox, dysentery, cholera, and typhoid took its toll on the
settlers and many of these small, overcrowded ships arrived with only 60 to 70%
of their passenger list. The migration or banishment to the New World continued,
some voluntarily from Ireland, many from England and Scotland. Some clans and
their families moved to the European continent.
In North America, migrants which could be considered a kinsman of the
family name Giles, or variable spellings of that same family name included
Edward Giles who settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1634; and George Giles who
purchased land in Virginia in 1652; Susan Giles settled in Barbados in 1660;
William Giles in Maryland in 1719; William Paxton Giles settled in New Castle,
Del. In 1843. In Newfoundland, Michael Giles settled in St. John’s in 1771;
John in Torbay in 1801; William Giles was a planter from Corbenear in 1823;
Issac in Indian Burying Place in 1843.
During the war of independence, those declaring their allegiance to the
crown moved North into Canada and became known as the United Empire Loyalist.
The most Ancient grant of a
Coat of Arms found was:
Red with a cross between 4 cups, and at the top three pelicans.
This
particular bit of information was acquired from one of my many aunts, many years
ago. It is family oral history she had a professional (Genealogist or person of
that ilk) put this together. The accuracy? Your guess is as good as mine.