The surname Giles (also spelled Gyles) is of English origin, derived from the medieval given name Giles. The given name itself comes from the Late Latin name Aegidius, which is thought to derive from the Greek αἰγίδιον (aigidion), meaning "young goat." The name was brought to England through Old French, where Aegidius became Gidie and then Gilles.
Origin and History
The name is associated with Saint Giles (c. 8th century), a Christian hermit and miracle worker who traveled from Greece to southern France. He is venerated as the patron saint of the crippled and of beggars. The surname arose among followers of Saint Giles and from individuals who bore the given name. In England, the name was established after the Norman Conquest (1066) through Norman French influence.
Geographical Distribution
The Giles surname is most common in English-speaking countries, particularly the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, approximately 45,148 Americans carry the surname Giles, ranking it 861st in national surname frequency.
Notable Bearers
- Ernest Giles (1835–1897), Australian explorer who made several expeditions into the interior of Australia
- Herbert Giles (1845–1935), British diplomat and Sinologist, co-creator of the Wade-Giles system for romanizing Chinese
- Lionel Giles (1875–1958), British scholar and translator, known for his translation of The Art of War by Sun Tzu
- Carl Giles (1916–1995), British cartoonist known for his work in the Daily Express
- Johnny Giles (born 1940), Irish footballer and manager
- Ashley Giles (born 1973), English cricketer
- Adam Giles (born 1973), Australian politician, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory (2013–2016)
- Ken Giles (born 1990), American baseball pitcher
Fictional Characters
- Rupert Giles, a central character from the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- George Giles, protagonist of John Barth's 1966 novel Giles Goat-Boy
Variants and Related Surnames
Related surnames include Gilles, Gillis, Gyles, Gilson, and Morgan-Giles.
