Surname Guild - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Guild: What does the surname Guild mean?
The surname Guild has its roots in Old English and Medieval Scotland, derived from the word "gild" which means "payment". It was generally associated with individuals who were part of trade associations or fraternities, which were commonly referred to as guilds during the Middle Ages. These guilds were prominent in areas of commerce and crafts, where professionals would band together for mutual aid and protection of their shared interests. Therefore, the surname could potentially indicate that the original bearers were members or leaders of such guilds. The name may have also been used metaphorically for someone who was considered valuable or who may have been employed in collecting guilds (taxes). Like many surnames, the exact implication might have varied based on geographical regions and historical periods. Additionally, it's worthwhile noting that like many surnames, over centuries and migration, variations of the name's spelling have emerged, such as Gild, Guilder, Guilders, and Gilders.
Order DNA origin analysisGuild: Where does the name Guild come from?
The last name Guild is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is linked to the ancient profession of "guild," which refers to a group of skilled craftsmen who carry out a specific trade. It was originally an occupational surname for individuals involved in groups of craftsmen or merchants. The surname was first recorded in Perthshire, Scotland, making it Scottish in origin.
The Guild surname has Scottish, English, and German variations due to migration and the evolution of language over time. Notable Scottish branches of the Guild family resided in counties such as Aberdeenshire and Perthshire, and in England, it was mostly found in Hampshire.
Today, the surname Guild is found in various countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Its occurrence varies, with it being less commonly found in certain regions. According to Forebears, the United States currently has the highest number of people with the Guild surname. However, in terms of density (number of Guilds per capita), New Zealand is ranked highest. Regardless, it remains a relatively rare surname worldwide.
Variations of the surname Guild
The surname Guild has a number of variants and related surnames due to geographical locations and translations. Some of these variants include Gild, Guilds, Gilde, Guilder, Gilders, and Gyle.
It's also worth noting that surnames can often be affected by regional dialects and phonetic spellings. Therefore, modifications such as Gild, Gilds, or Gylde might be encountered.
These different spelling variations often happened when scribes and church officials recorded the name phonetically, leading to different spellings in different documents.
For surnames of the same origin, we can look at those deriving from the same root as Guild, which typically means "craftsmen" or "member of a guild." Therefore, surnames such as Smith, Potter, or Weaver could be considered of similar origin as they also pertain to particular crafts or professions.
However, if we are considering surnames derived from the same geographical or racial origin, Guild is often thought to be of Germanic origin, along with names like Gold, Golda, Gulda, or Gould.
Lastly, it's noteworthy that while all the name variants are primarily Anglo-Saxon, they are known to be influenced by and present in other cultures and countries due to migration and intermarriages.
Famous people with the name Guild
- Alison Guild: She is a renowned Australian actress famously known for her role as Dr. Alex Fraser in the TV series 'The Sullivans.'
- Evan Guild: He is an accomplished professional hockey player who had short stints in the American Hockey League. The last name 'Guild' doesn't seem to be very prevalent among famous people. However, it's important to remember that the people listed above might be more regionally famous and there are likely other individuals named Guild who are renowned in their respective fields or communities.