Surname Kilmore - Meaning and Origin

Kilmore: What does the surname Kilmore mean?

The last name Kilmore is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic 'Cill Mhoire' which means 'Church of Mary'. The name is often found in Ulster, County Mayo, and County Donegal in Ireland, where historically, people of this name would have been known as members of the thinker class of Irish society. Most people bearing the surname would have been cultivators of the land or farmers.

Kilmore is believed to be one of the earliest surnames to come from Ireland, originating before the 12th century CE. During this time, surnames became popular as a way to denote familial connection and to reflect status or association with a particular clan.

The Kilmore surname is very old, having descended from the ancient MacIlmores, chiefs of mot 'Fir Uladh' of Idrone in County Carlow, Ireland. This noble family was related to the O'Kane's and the O'Reilly's who were amongst the most prominent clans in Ireland at the time.

In the 19th century, many Kilmores left Ireland for the British Isles and North America, where the last name remains largely concentrated in Canada and the United States. Even today, Kilmore is a very rare name, ranking in the lowest five percent of names in terms of commonality.

Kilmore: Where does the name Kilmore come from?

The last name Kilmore is an old and traditional Irish surname, found mainly in Northern and Connacht regions of Ireland. There were several different Kilmore septs (clans) in the ancient provinces. It is especially common in the provinces Leitrim, Mayo, and Sligo.

The majority of modern Kilmores can trace their roots back to these ancient families. There are also large numbers in the United States, especially in New York and Pennsylvania.

It is particularly popular in the greater Philadelphia area, originally established as Irish heartland in the 1600s. Kilmores are believed to have traveled there during the 1840s potato famine.

The name Kilmore is also to be found in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and parts of Europe, in particular Scotland. This is a result of migration of Irish people throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.

In total, there are an estimated 30,000 people with the surname Kilmore around the world, with the majority being in Ireland.

Variations of the surname Kilmore

The surname Kilmore has several variants depending on where it was derived and how it was adapted by different language and culture changes over time. Possible variants include Kilmour, Kilmer, Kilmoyer, Kilmoor, Kilmoore, Kilmorey, Kilmor, Kielemoor, Killemore, Killmore, Kilmour, Killemour, Killemur, Killmur, Kilemour, Killemur and Killemare.

The original spellings and roots of this surname are thought to have been derived from the Gaelic language O'Maolmuire, which is made up of two parts. The first part is O', which was an Irish prefix meaning “grandson of”, and Maolmuire, which means “Chief of Mary”. Within Ireland, it was traditional for the Anglicization of this name to begin with “Kil”.

Kilmore is thought to have different surnames of the same origin, with some variations in spelling, primarily due to language and culture changes over time. Variations of this surname include Kilmore, Kilmorey, Kilmour, Killemore, Killemour, and Kilmoore.

The Kilmore surname also has variations within the United States, including variants Killmore, Killingmore, Killemoor, and Killemare. Variants in Scotland include Kilmour, Kilmer, Kilmoyer, Kilmoor, Kielemoor, and Killmur.

Kilmore is a common surname in Ireland, Scotland, England and the United States. Though its variants have slightly different spellings, they are all rooted in the same Gaelic origin.

Famous people with the name Kilmore

• Kirk Kilmore: Canadian professional ice hockey player.
• Peter Kilmore: Australian cricketer and former baseball player.
• Garrett Kilmore: American actor and model.
• Sean Kilmore: Actor, director, and producer known for his work on Lovell Island and Driftwood.
• John Kilmore: British boxer and trainer, who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.
• Julian Kilmore: British artist known for his paintings of landscapes in oil.
• Bill Kilmore: British soap opera actor who played PC Joe Mean in Coronation Street.
• Gael Kilmore: Scottish radio and television presenter and announcer.
• Donna Kilmore: Canadian voice actress who provided her voice for feature films and commercials.
• Simon Kilmore: British DJ and music producer known for his work on the song ‘Moonwalking’.

Other surnames

Kilmon