Gullett
A surname probably shortened from a medieval nickname or personal-name form, most likely tied to the old name Goliard/Gullard.
The #8,036 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 74,993 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The 1916 note by Weekley says Gullett is a regular reduced form of Gullard, itself linked with the medieval name Goliard. That points to a surname built from an older personal-name or nickname base rather than from a place or occupation. The deeper root is not entirely secure, but the chain likely runs through medieval French and English forms associated with the name-type Goliard/Gullard.
History
This is a relatively uncommon English surname, and the historical note suggests it developed by shortening a longer medieval form. Because the evidence is brief and indirect, the exact pathway is not fully certain, but the name clearly belongs to the same broad medieval naming stock as other reduced surname forms. Modern bearers are found mainly in English-speaking countries, especially the United States and Britain.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname appears in a 1916 onomastic discussion as an example of how medieval names often became shorter over time.
From the historical record
“nected with Golias, we have Gullard [John Goliard, Close R., John le Golert, Derby Cart. 1353], of which Gullett is the regular reduction. I have seldom found Solomon as a medieval font-name, while William dictus Salamon (Lond. Wills, 1287) is a clear case 1 Was the original Whalebelly a piece of realistic…”
— Surnames