MacGillis comes from the Gaelic "Gille Iosa," meaning "Servant of Jesus" and appears as "Mac Gill' Iosa", or more commonly as Gillis, Gillies, MacGillis, or MacGillies. This name is found especially in Badenoch and in the Western Highlands and Islands, and more particularly in Morar, on the northwest coast of Scotland. ""Gillis" is the spelling which the Gaelic speaking highlanders brought out of Morar, Moidart, Knoydart, Skye and the islands to Nova Scotia after 1745. The "Gillies" spelling while now prevelant in Scotland reflects a non-Gaelic speaking origin and in some instances was picked up from facors passenger lists--English speaking factors for emmigration ships. Further, the name is generic like Carpenter, Sawyer, Cooper, Miller and usually refers to a local holy person or to the childen of married Catholic priests in the Columban rite. Gillis of Morar reflects a family apparently evolved in the Tenth Century from a mixture of Nothern Picts and Norse. The designation "Gillis" of "Gilliosa" seems to have been adopted as a patronomic to distinguish Christians from their pagan neighbors. This was also the case for "Gilchrist" which evolved about the same time in northeastern Ireland." (Source: Electric Scotland) Gillis is typically considered to be a sept of the MacPherson clan, but given the prevalence of the surname in Morar, and the Hebrides, it has a strong association with MacDonell of Glengarry, and MacDonald of Clanranald. As this surname is not a patronym, it is likely that there is no single origin or mutual common ancestor (MCA); however, it is likely that the project will shed light on the various lineages from Scotland, particularly those that settled in Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Cape Breton. Known Lineages: Martainn (Martin) Gillis, lived in North Morar, in the Loch Nevis area, not far from resent-day Mallaig. He appears in a “Judicial Rental” of the Glengarry estate made in 1762, where Martin and Angus Gillis are stated to be paying “5-12-6 8/12 for the two farthing land of Mallebeg’ in the Barony of Morar. According to notes that seem to go back to Rev. J.A.M. Gillis…this Martainn Gillis was the son of Aonghas, son of Domhnull, son of Anndras, son of Iain, son of Uilleam, son of Iain Glas, son of Uilleam. (MacMillan, A West Wind to East Bay, 2001) Aonghas Ruadh Gillis, came from Morar, Scotland, in 1826, and settled in Grand Mira. He was married to Mairead Gillis. (MacMillan, A West Wind to East Bay, 2001) Donnchadh Ban Gillis lived in Moidart, Scotland, and was married to Mairi MacDonald, also of Moidart. (MacMillan, A West Wind to East Bay, 2001) John Gillis (“Iain Mor”) (born ca. 1828), settled at Sydney Forks, Cape Breton. He may have been the son of Donald and Peggy Gillis of Ben Eoin, Cape Breton. He married Ann (“Nancy”) MacDonald, of East Bay. (MacMillan, A West Wind to East Bay, 2001) Iain mac Dhomhnuill ‘ic Eoghainn Gillis, whose ancestor Eoghann was the son of “John of Morar” settled at what became known as Gillis Lake. It is believe that Iain married Ann Gillis. (MacMillan, A West Wind to East Bay, 2001) Eoghann (“Evan” or “Hugh”) (born ca 1797 on the Isle of Barra) was the son of Iain Gillis & Flora MacKinnon. He married Ciorsdan MacMullin of Bruthernish, Barra in 1821, and emigrated that same year. (MacMillan, To the Hill of Boisedale, 2001) Gilleasbuig Gillis lived in Cliad, Barra, with his wife, Anna MacDougall. They emigrated from Scotland ca 1832 and settled at first in the area of Barrachois Pond, and then to Rear Beaver Cove. (MacMillan, To the Hill of Boisedale, 2001) Murchadh Gillis lived in Kyles, Barra, and married Catherine MacDonald, second daughter of John, tenant in Tangasdale, in 1820. They emigrated to Cape Breton in 1821, most likely on the ship “Harmony”, and settled on the South Side of Boularderie Island. (MacMillan, To the Hill of Boisedale, 2001) Niall Gillis was a merchant and was married to Catherine MacNeil. They lived at Point Clear, Boularderie. (MacMillan, To the Hill of Boisedale, 2001) Hugh Gillis, a native of Lorn, Argyllshire, mobed to Barra He married Ann MacIntyre. Hugh was killed in the army, and his widow and family emigrated to Cape Breton and settled in Jamesville West. (ACIH Citation) Domhnull (Domhnull Mor an Obain) Gillis John Gillis, son of Peter Gillis, emigrated from Moidart, Scotland, and settled at the South West River of Mabour. He later moved to the Glencoe district of the County of Inverness, and married Anne Beaton, daughter of Angus Beaton of Little Judique. (MacDonald, 2014) Donald Gillis of Morar, Scotland, was the common forebear of the Gillis family of Little Mabou. He married Margaret Gillis, daughter of “Iain MacAlasdair” of Morar. (MacDonald, 2014) Citations MacDonald, A. D. Mabou Pioneers Volume 1: A Genealogical Tracing of Some Pioneer Families Who Settled in Mabou and District. Formac, 2014. MacMillan, A. J. A West Wind to East Bay : a short history and a genealogical tracing of the pioneer families of the East Bay area of Cape Breton . 1st ed., Music Hill Publications, 2001. MacMillan, A. J. To the Hill of Boisedale: Pioneering Families of Boisedale, Cape Breton and Surrounding Areas. 1st ed., Music Hill Publications, 2001.