The name Gillis is Gaelic in origin and means "servant of Jesus."  The Gillis family name evolved from the name Gillies. The first Gillis was Gillies MacPherson who lived in the Lothian region of Scotland in the 12th century. It is thought that another branch came from the Isle of Skye. The Gillis family is a sept of the Clan MacPherson, and can wear the tartan and crest of the MacPherson Clan but it has its own tartan as well.