This uncommon surname is of Old French origin, and is one of the varied group of derivative names generated by the male personal names "Gilo" or the slightly later "Guillaume", this being an Old French form of an ancient Germanic given name composed of the elements "wil", will, desire, with "helm", helmet, protection. As examples Guillon is a double diminutive of "Guillaume", which itself is a diminutive form of "Guile or Guille", which is itself the usual diminutive form of "Guillaume". This name and its many variant forms were introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, where it is usually found as Giles, Gilles, and even Jiles. French forms of surnames from Guile and Guille include Guillet, Guillot, Guillotin, Guillon, Guilleau, Guilloux, and Guillond. Recordings of the name from French Church Registers include: the christening of Catherine, daughter of Etienne Guillon, at Angers, Maine-et-Loire, in December 1643, and the marriage of Francois Guill and Perrine Baudry on July 7th 1692, at Andreze, Maine-et-Loire. The name was introduced into England by Huguenot refugees; one Francoise Guilleau was christened at Castle Street French Huguenot Church, London, on October 13th 1695. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Peter Gillame, which was dated 1276, in the "Calendar of Letter Books of the City of London", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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