Surname Kilmaith - Meaning and Origin

Kilmaith: What does the surname Kilmaith mean?

Kilmaith is a Scottish surname which originated in the mid-14th century in the lands of Kilmaith in Ayrshire, near the river Doon. The term Kilmaith is derived from the Gaelic cille maite which translates to 'church of the platy'. The name which is related to the Celtic Church suggests a possible origin of a family of clergymen, or a family who held a high role within the church, or a family members of a monk or missionary who settled the area.

The Kilmaith surname is thought to have been derived from the Old English personal name Maedog, which suggests it was on of the earliest Anglo-Saxon-originated Scots names in the area.

In the late 19th century, the population bearing the Kilmaith surname lived in Lanarkshire in the Lowlands. In recent times, the Kilmaith surname is found in the Border region of England and Scotland.

It is possible that some descendants of the surname live in present day America. As well as Scotland and England, the Kilmaith name is regularly found in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. It is also seen in other countries, such as Germany, France and the Netherlands.

Kilmaith: Where does the name Kilmaith come from?

The last name Kilmaith is most commonly found in Scotland today. The surname is one of the oldest known Scottish surnames and is believed to originate from the area near Lanark near the border of Scotland and England. Records of early references to the name date back as far as 1296 when Elisabeth de Kilemythe resigned the lands of Bearhill in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

The surname is most common in the region of Lanarkshire in Scotland. It is also seen in Fife, a small region of East Central Scotland. While the family is believed to have originated in Lanarkshire, many moved from the area over the centuries and can be found throughout all of Scotland. In the last 200 years, Kilmaith families have emigrated to the United States and Canada, where the name is sometimes spelled as Kilmath or Kilemith.

Kilmaith is also an uncommon surname in Ireland, particularly in Northern Ireland, though some individuals with this last name live in the Republic of Ireland. The name is not found in any significant numbers elsewhere in the United Kingdom or Europe.

The name Kilmaith is usually pronounced in Scotland with a short 'i' sound as "KIL-meth" or "KILL-meth," and with a long 'i' as "Ki-LMAITH." In Ireland, it is usually pronounced with a long 'i' as "Ki-LMAITH."

Variations of the surname Kilmaith

Kilmaith is a surname of Scottish origin meaning “servant of Maith”. It is found in records as early as the 16th century and variants of the name include Kilmaithe, Kilmath, Kilmaith, Kilmethe, Kilmet, Kilmett, Kilmitt, Kilmathe, Kilmeth and Kilmit.

Variants of the name found in records spanning the late-17th to early-20th century spellings include Kilmeth, Kilmith, Kilmythe, Kilmah, Kilmath, Kilmithe, Kilmethe, Kilmett, Kilmeth, Kilmitt and Kilmeeth. Common variants of the name in the late-19th and early 20th century spellings include Kilmaith, Kilmath, Kilmeethe, Kilmet, Kilmeth, Kilmith, Kilmett and Kilmich.

Surnames derived from Kilmaith include Kilmaister, Kilmeister, Kilmaistro, Kilmister, Kilmeistro, Kilmestro, Kilmistro, Kilmestro, Kilmestor, Kilmistor, Kilmister and Kilmistor.

Common spelling variants of the Kilmaith surname in Scotland include Kilmaith, Kilmeth, Kilmitt, Kilmis, Kilmest, Kilmich, Kilmett, Kilmeith and Kilmeth. In other dialects and countries, the spelling can vary from dialects of Lowland Scots and English to northern dialects and variants such as Kilmaet, Kilmeit, Kilmean, Kilmeth, Kilmeath, Kilmeith, Kilmieth and Kilmey.

The Gaelic form of the surname is MacGille Mhath, though the more modern version is MacGhille Mhath. In Irish, the surname is rendered as Mac an Mheith, meaning “son of Mheith”. In Welsh, the name is rendered as Melmaid and in Manx, it is rendered as Mac an Aoidh.

Famous people with the name Kilmaith

• Dylan Kilmaith: an American professional wrestler and actor known for his work in mix martial arts and professional wrestling, as well as for his appearances in movies and television.
• Elizabeth Kilmaith: a producer and director known for breakthrough films like 'A Beautiful Mind' and 'American Beauty'.
• Andrew Kilmaith: a musician and actor best known for his work on the hit stage play ‘The Book of Mormon’.
• Brigid Kilmaith: an Irish politician who served in the Irish Senate from 1997 to 2001.
• Aubrey Kilmaith: a British film and television actor best known for his roles in ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ and ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’.
• Curtis Kilmaith: an American professional basketball player.
• Mark Kilmaith: a Scottish artist and sculptor best known for his oil paintings, murals and public art.
• Annabelle Kilmaith: a British author and editor who won the 2012 PEN Literary Award for her novel ‘Crowns and Kingdoms’.
• Sybil Kilmaith: a Scottish comedian and actress who has appeared in several television shows and films such as ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ and ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’.
• Stephen Kilmaith: an American actor best known for his roles in ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and ‘The Hunger Games’.

Other surnames

Kilmaine