Gaelic Gille Criosd, Mid. Gaelic Gillacrist, 'servant of Christ.' The beautiful S. Martin's Cross in Iona was the work of a sculptor of this name: It bears an inscription in Irish characters: Oroit do Gillacrist doringne t (-in) chros sa, 'a prayer for Gilchrist who made this cross.' The inscription was discovered and deciphered by Prof R. A. S. Macalister in 1927. Gillecrist mac Finguni and Gillecrist mac Cormaic are witnesses to Gaelic grants in the Book of Deer before 1132 (Bk. Deer, III, 8). Gillecrist mac Gillewinin witnessed the charter by Uchtredus filius Fergusi of the church of Colmanele to the Abbey of Holyrood c. 1165 (LSC., p. 19), and mention is made of the lands of Gilcriste Kide near the river Nethan c. 1180—1203 (Kelso, 110). Gillecrist Bretnach (the 'Welshman') witnessed a charter by Duncan, son of Gilbert, son of Fergus, of lands in Carrie c. 1200 (Melros, I, p. 22), and Gillecrist filius Gillcunil was erarter witness in Dumfriesshire in the reign of Alexander II (ibid., I, p. 182). Gilcrist, earl of Mar, c. 1179—1204, disputed the legitimacy of his predecessor, Morgund, and established himself in possession to the exclusion of Morgund's line. What is known of him is chiefly to be gleaned from ecclesiastical sources. He built a priory for the Culdees of Monymusk and endowed them with various churches in Mar. Killecrist, judex de Stehtinth (Stranith), who witnessed Edgar's grant of the church of Mortun to Kelso c. 1200, may be the Gillecrist judex who witnessed a charter of the church of Dalgarenoc about the same date (Kelso, 347; LSC., p. 44). Gillecristus filius Daniel and Gillecristus filius Huttyng were witnesses to the Diuise de Stobbo also about the year 1190 (REG., p. 89). Gillecryst, a serf of the earl of Angus, was one of the perambulators of the lands of Kynblathmund, etc., in 1219 (RAA., I, p. 162), and Gillecrist de lacu ("of the loch") was one of the assessors of the lands of Dunduff in 1231 (RD., p. 111). The name of Gilcrist, earl of Mar is spelled Willicrist in a papal document of 1282 (Pap. Lett., I, p. 476). Patrick Gilcristes sone del counte de Strivelyn and Kilschyn Gilcrist of the county of Perth rendered homage, 1296 (Bain. II, p. 200,208). The seal of the latter bears an eagle displayed and S' Kilcrist Malbrit (ibid., p. 532). Adam fiz Gillecrist was juror on an inquisition in Strayavane (Strathaven), Lanarkshire, 1302—03 (ibid., 1343), and in 1304 Gilcrist, son of Brunn and Waldave, son of Gilcrist are witnesses to a grant by R. son of Dunegal of his heritage in Dronfres (ibid., p. 421). The name has been Englished Christopher, and perhaps also as Christie. Note the mixture here of Gaelic and Old English names.

(Celtic) 1 Servant or Disciple of Christ [Irish Giolla Chriosd- Gaelic Gille Crioisd] 2 Dweller by a chapel dedicated to Christ—Christ Church [Gaelic Gill (kil) Crioisd]

Mac Giolla Chríost An indigenous sept of north Connacht and Co. Longford. Gilchrist is also a Scottish surname. SIF 76

(Scottish) The servant of Christ.

(Referred to, but accidentally omitted in the body of the work). See under Gill in this Supplement.

The servant of Christ; from gille, a servant, and Chriosed, Christ.

(Gaelic.) From gille, a servant, and Chriosed, Christ—the servant of Christ.

(Scotch), Giolla Christ, Servant of Christ.

From the Swedish, Gillqvist; a personal name Or from the Irish Giolla Chriosd.