Giles Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Giles last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Giles last name
Meaning of the Giles last name: from Aegidius (young goat). The Giles surname comes from the medieval first name Giles, from Latin Aegidius, which goes back to a Greek word for "young goat". Saint Giles was one of the best-loved saints of the Middle Ages, and many churches bear his name. As a last name it is most common in southern and western England. A curious detail: Saint Giles was the patron of beggars and of people with disabilities.
Arms associated with the Giles name
In English heraldry gold stood for generosity and blue for loyalty, and coats of arms associated with the Giles name speak that old language of colour.
Get your full Giles family history
This is only a glimpse of the Giles story. The full Giles 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 Giles coat of arms. Get the full Giles report.
Giles name FAQ
What does the Giles name mean?
From Aegidius (young goat). Common variants include Gyles, Gile, Jiles.
Where does the Giles surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Giles coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Giles coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).