There is a wealth of information about Manx surnames, including Gelling, in the Manx Notebook. The Notebook also includes a list in order of surnames in 1881, beginning with Kelly at 409. Gelling is 32nd at 71.

The most common area of historical Gelling concentration was in the parishes near Douglas, i.e., Braddan, Onchan and Marown. , and also Malew. I think German and Patrick would come next. My set comes from Onchan. I suspect yours will turn out to be Braddan/Marown but am not certain as I can't identify the parents of John G who married Elinor Crellin 13 Feb 1798 Braddan. I'm 95% sure these folks are the parents of Robert (95% is based on solid circumstancial evidence such as siblings in same area of USA., but lacking documented proof).

The IGI doesn't have a baptism for Robert (William) Gelling so I'm curious where you obtained the 17 Mar 1809 birthdate for him. I haven't checked the register, so perhaps a baptism is there. The date is a couple of years later that I figured he'd be. He was 43 (born Braddan), Miner, in the 1851 census at Virginia, Braddan. His wife Catherine was 39 born Michael, and children Robert 5, Eleanor 4 and Philip 2. His birthyear ought to be about 1807, given sister Margaret is 1805 and Catharine is late 1808.

Do you have information on the American history of this family? I have almost nothing, other than the 1880 census in Illinois and that the family emigrated there in 1855. My email is egelling at shaw dot ca.

John Gelling & Elinor Crellin md 1798 are an enigma. I know almost nothing about them though have some conjectures. We have 6 children for them: John 1803 (to US 1830), Margaret 1805, Robert abt 1807 (to Illinois 1855), Catharine 1808, Thomas 1810 (md Agnes Brough 1839 Lezayre, issue), Charlotte Eleanor (Ellen) 1816 (spinster, joined brother John in Sangamon County Ill in 1852).