This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Juliana,' more popularly Gillian. A single glance at the Hundred Rolls, where all manner of forms, all over the kingdom, are found, practically sets the matter at rest The font-name was enormously popular even before 'Jack and Jill' made the nick, so familiar; v. Gill. Galyena occurs without surname in Suffolk in 1373 (A- '93)

Gillian Cook, Kent, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Gilian de la Mill, Somerset, ibid.

Robert Galian, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Fulco Galyon, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Roger Gulyan, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

William Gilion, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

Richard Galon, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

William Galoun, Somerset, 1 Edward III: ibid.

1771. Married — Henry Galon and Susanna Buss: St. George, Hanover Square.

It is just possible, however, that as Walter (Gualter) took the diminutive form Walon (v. Wallen), so Gualter would become Gualon; compare Guarin and Wareing, Garner and Warner, Guillaume and William, with their corresponding dims. Gillott and Willott, Gallon and Gallyon, would readily be formed in this way.

A surname found in Moray may be a variant of Gollan, which see.

These names are said to be all connected with Clan Maclean, from Gaelic Gilll' Eoin, 'servant of (S.) John', once a personal name. Through the imaginary Gillean of the Mackenzie pedigree "a Geraldine descent was provided also for the Macleans. Another descent for both Mackenzies and Macleans is from Gilleoin of the Aird. Sir William Fraser apparently regarded Gilleoin merely as a way of spelling Colin (The Earls of Cromarty I, p. XV)" (HP., II, p. 6n). In the Isle of Man Gilleon in 1511 is M Gilleon.

GILLEAN, Gilleon, Gillian, Gilzean, Gellion (in Inverness): These names are said to be all connected with Clan Maclean, from Gaelic Gilll' Eoin, 'servant of (S.) John', once a personal name. Through the imaginary Gillean of the Mackenzie pedigree "a Geraldine descent was provided also for the Macleans. Another descent for both Mackenzies and Macleans is from Gilleoin of the Aird. Sir William Fraser apparently regarded Gilleoin merely as a way of spelling Colin (The Earls of Cromarty I, p. XV)" (HP., II, p. 6n). In the Isle of Man Gilleon in 1511 is M Gilleon.

Ole Norse, gallin, crazy. Ferguson. The H.R. forms are Galien, Galiun, Galion, Galun, and Galeyn.

Bowditch says, "In 1844 one Joseph Galliano died in Boston, and in our Probate Records he has the alias of Joseph Gallon, that having been his popular name." Lower gives the H.R. forms "Galien, Galiun, Galion, Galun, and Galeyn." Said Joseph may have been from Galliano, a village of N. Italy, not far from Como; but the English name may be from Gallen, a parish of Ireland, Leinster; or Galloon, Ulster, co. Fermanagh; or Gaillan, Gaillon, two comms. and towns of France, one dep. Gironde, the other dep. Eure.

Gallon is an old name in this county. The family of Galon or Galoun held much property in Trewhitt and Pespole in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries; Hugo Galon resided at Trewhitt or Tirwhite Castle in the reign of Henry VI.; and a hundred years before, in the reign of Edward III., we hear of a Hugo Gallon of Pespole; Giles Gallon, Esq., lived at Trewhitt in the reign of Elizabeth (H.).