Gilliver
One-Name Study

Topics

• About the Gilliver One-Name Study
• Variants
• Origin of the surname
• Historical occurrences
• Distribution of the name
• Contact Details

About the Gilliver One-Name Study

The Gilliver One-Name Study is a new one, registered in September 2008, as a result of my attempts to trace the direct male line.

Variants

Common variants are Gillivour, Gillover, Gillivir and, of course, Gulliver. Less common are Gulliford and Guilliford.

Origin of the surname

The Gilliver surname is believed to be an occupational one. It has been suggested the name derives from Norman sauce makers using the gilliflower (pronounced jilli-flower) the old name for wallflower, (Cheiranthus), and this could point to the French name, Gillifleur, as a possible origin.

Historical occurrences

So far as I am aware, the only Gilliver to be recorded in the history books is Lawton Gilliver. He was bookseller to Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744) and it has been suggested that Jonathan Swift (1667 - 1745) had a grudge against him. Hence, Lemuel Gulliver in Swift's third book entitled 'Gulliver's Travels' (1726) - the initials being the same.

Distribution of the name

Strongest distribution is in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. The Gillivers resident in New Zealand, prior to 1973, are all members of the same branch of the family with a common ancestor, John Gilliver, who emigrated from England in the 1870's.

Contact details

For further information, contact:

Mr Stephen D Gilliver
E-mail:

This page last updated 13 January 2012.

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Profiles of other one-name studies registered with the Guild may be found here.