Surname Kilgannon - Meaning and Origin
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Kilgannon: What does the surname Kilgannon mean?
Kilgannon is an Irish-Gaelic surname originating from County Cork, Ireland. The name is derived from the Old Irish 'Mac Leodhagain', which translates to 'son of Leodagan'. Leodagan was an early warrior-king who was said to be descended from a line of ancient Celtic kings. Kilgannon can also be translated to mean 'follower of the Caomhanach', an ancient warrior clan.
The Kilgannon family originates from the early people of County Cork who were known for their courage and fortitude in the face of adversity. These values are embedded in the family's coat of arms, which features a crest of a red lion atop a yellow background with the words ‘Courage and Fortitude’ inscribed upon it.
Today, members of the Kilgannon family are found in many corners of the world, though many still remain in Ireland. As the old Irish motto suggests, they are a family “proud of its Celtic heritage and distinguished by the strength of its spirit.”
Order DNA origin analysisKilgannon: Where does the name Kilgannon come from?
The last name Kilgannon is of Irish origin and is most common today in the Emerald Isle. The exact origin of the surname Kilgannon is uncertain. Some have suggested the surname could be derived from the Ulster surname “MacGilligan”, which means “son of the servant of the church” or “son of the deacon”.
Over the past two centuries, the Kilgannon surname has spread to other parts of the world, such as to the United Kingdom, United States and Canada. The surname Kilgannon is also seen in various records and documents in other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway, South Africa and Argentina.
Between the 19th and 20th centuries, the Kilgannon name was particularly prevalent in the province of Connacht in Ireland. The surname is also found to be common in County Galway, County Mayo and County Sligo. Kilgannon is also found in many extant records in the Republic of Ireland, particularly in the counties of Dublin, Meath, Carlow and Kildare.
The Kilgannon name has of course been a source of great pride for many generations of Kilgannon families across the world. It is reclaiming its footing in the modern age but remains most common in its place of origin, where its rich and varied history will forever be celebrated.
Variations of the surname Kilgannon
The surname Kilgannon is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic "O'Ceallachain" which translates to "Son or descendant of Ceallachan". Variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Kilgannon include:
Kellaghan, Kelleghan, Killagin, Killaghan, Killegan, Killgen, Killigan, Kilgan, Kilgone, Killican, O'Kelleghan, O'Kellaghan, Ceallaghnain, O'Kilgannon, O'Kallaghan, Killeghan, Kilgannon, Killeggon, Killecon, Kellacon and Killgammon.
Other spellings may include Killechin, Killeaghen, Killaghen, Killghen, Killkon, Kellygan, Kelgeen, Keilgin, Cancer, Kilkin, Kallechin and Galgan.
The surname Kilgannon is commonly found in the Irish counties of Connacht and Leinster, particularly in the province of Ulster. In terms of spelling variations, those of Salen and Kenagh have been found most commonly in County Mayo, Killacon in County Galway, Killecon in County Donegal, Kilkinn in County Clare, and Kellaghan in County Louth.
It is also possible to find spellings of Kilgannon in Northern Ireland, Australia, America, Scotland and England, where the name may have originated with immigrants from the Irish counties in the late 19th century or with earlier migrations to the British Isles.
Famous people with the name Kilgannon
- Saint Kilgannon of Iona: Saint Kilgannon is a sixth-century Irish saint, known for founding the monastery on the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland.
- Garrett Kilgannon: Garrett Kilgannon is an American actor and producer, known for appearing in productions such as ‘The Godfather’ series and ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’.
- Desiree Kilgannon: Desiree Kilgannon is an Australian actress and singer, most notably known for appearing in productions like ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’.
- Jeff Kilgannon: Jeff Kilgannon is a musician from Australia, whose work spans from punk and hardcore to acoustic and roots folk.
- Bryan Kilgannon: Bryan Kilgannon is a British sports agent and former professional ice hockey player, having played for teams like the Cardiff Demons and Manchester Phoenix.
- Aidan Kilgannon: Aidan Kilgannon is an illustrator and graphic designer from the UK, currently based in London. He is best known for his book cover designs for the likes of Penguin, Faber and Faber and Little, Brown.
- Sean Kilgannon: Sean Kilgannon is an American journalist, having worked for major media outlets like WNET, the Associated Press and Newsday. He's also the author of ‘A Grand Experiment: The Story of a Country Called Vietnam’.
- Raymond Kilgannon: Raymond Kilgannon is an Irish screenwriter and actor, known for writing and producing short films such as ‘The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret’ and ‘Harvest’.
- Donnacha Kilgannon: Donnacha Kilgannon is an Irish chef who won the 2009 European Young Chef Award and has cooked for many distinguished clientele including the President of Ireland.
- Jack Kilgannon: Jack Kilgannon is a professional photographer from the US specialised in editorial, food, lifestyle and travel photography. He also designs albums and digital experiences for brands and publications.