It is important to observe at the outset that these two well-established surnames have two distinct origins, one masculine, the other feminine, both of the baptismal or personal class. I will deal with the masculine first (1) Bapt. 'the son of William,' from the N. the French Guille (English Will), and diminutive Guill-ot (English Willott or Willett). This made only a slight impression on English nomenclature, the desire to keep it distinct from Gilot, the nick, and diminutive of Juliana (v. Gillott, a), causing Williamot, shortened to Wilmot, to predominate. In France the double diminutive Guillotin will be for ever remembered as the surname of the doctor who invented the murderous instrument that bears his name; compare.

Gillotyn Hansake, 20 Henry VI: Wars of English in France, Henry VI, vol. ii..'

In the Hundred Rolls we find Gilcock for Wilcock. I proceed to furnish a few instances of the masculine use:

Gwillotus Clerk. Calendarium Rotulorum Patentium in Turri Londinensi.

Guillot le Balister. Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum in Turri Londinesi.

Gilot le Heanberger, London. Riley's Memorials of London.

Guillot des Robes, Wardrobe Roll, 4 Edward III.

Gelot Webester et Johanna uxor ejus, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes Gillotson: ibid.Stolen from Fore-bears

(a) Bapt. 'the son of Juliana,' popularly Gilliam, nick. Jill or Gill, diminutive Gillot.

'Husband. Alle the day long Thus it fell to my lott, Gylle, I had sich grace. Wife. It were a fowlle blott to be hanged for the case. Husband. I have skapyd, Jelott, oft as hard a glase.': Towneley Mysteries.

This quotation disposes of all doubts on the subject, did they exist Oddly enough, it gives the initial 'G' in one case and 'J' in the other. In one of the old metrical sermons it is said:

'Robin will Gilot Leden to the nale, And sitten there togedres And tellen ther tale.' See my English Surnames, 3rd edit.

It was through the inconstancy of Gilot we got our dictionary word jilt. I now proceed to furnish instances of the feminine use:

Thomas Taylour et Gillot uxor ejus, 1370: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Robertus Lyster et Gillot' uxor ejus, 1379: ibid.

Gillote Fox, 1379: ibid.

Johannes Gilotson, 1379: ibid.

Willelmus Gilliote, 1379. ibid.

Johannes Undyrhyll et Gyllot' uxor ejus, 1372: ibid.

Willelmus Gehot, 1379: ibid.

Johannes Gylyott, 1379: ibid.

= Gill (Anglo-French) (q.v.) + the French diminutive suff. -et]

(French) Descendant of little Giles, Gilles or Gille, a variant of the Latin, Aegidius (shield or protection).

(In pronunciation Jillet.) The name is supposed to be derived from Gilleste, a town on the borders of France and Piedmont. Inf. Rev. Edw. Gillet. When the G is hard, the name is probably a derivation of Guillaume, William.

"In England there are numerous families who write their name Gillett and Gillot, all of French extraction; the former at Glastonbury, Exeter, and Banbury; the latter at Birmingham and Sheffield. It is probable that these names, as well as Jellett and Guillot, have all been originally the same, namely Gillot, the diminutive of Gilles, the French form of Giles." Ulster Journal of Archaeology-sed dubito.

From Guillot, the French diminutive for William. The family may have come with William the Conqueror into England, from Gillette, a town in Piedmont, France. Gillette, the son of Giles.

Oxfordshire is now the principal home of the Gilletts, but the name is also found in Kent. In Lincolnshire the name is represented by Gilliart, Gilliatt, and Gillyatt. In the 13th century the name took the forms in Cambridgeshire and Hunts of Gillot, Gillote, and Gilot (H. R.).