The name GILBERT is Norman French and North German. It comes from Giselbert, a Norman personal name composed of the Germanic gisil meaning nobel youth and berht meaning bright or famous. Gilbert has evolved from the spellings of Gislebert, Guilbert and Gilebert and has many other derivatives like Gilbart, Gelbart, Gilbertson, Gilbertti and Gillbert1.
Traditionally the GILBERTINES were an English order of monks founded in the 12th century by St Gilbert of Sempringham2 (1085-1189) and there were numerous convents of this order in the British Isles at the time of the suppression. This was the only native English monastic order and this, it is believed, contributed to the popularity of the name Gilbert during the Middle Ages.
Probably the earliest recorded 'Gilberts' were WILLELMUS GILBERTI reputedly listed in the Curia Regis Rolls in Wiltshire 1202 and a ROBERT GYLEBERT, recorded as living in Norfolk in 1235 3. There was a William GILBERT of Compton Castle, Marldon, Devon (1204 - 1210 - 1270) 4. which has been home for that branch of the GILBERT family for most of the time since it was built. Given to the National Trust in 1951, on the condition that the family should continue to occupy the castle, they administer it for the Trust.5
1. Gilbert – Wikipaedia.com
2. Sempringham is in Lincolnshire
3. The Origins of Your Family Name, Blue Chip Products
4. Submitted by John GILBERT - 24th in the line - 2 December 2017
5. Wikipedia "Compton Castle"
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William Gilbert (1204 or 1210 to 1270) can be found in the ancestry of Compton Castle. (I am 24th in that line, incidentally.)
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