Surname Killion - Meaning and Origin

Killion: What does the surname Killion mean?

The surname Killion is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Ó Cillín, meaning "descendant of Cillín." The name Cillín is a diminutive of "cill" which translates as "church". So one might interpret it as "the little church" or "one who serves at the little church." Many Irish surnames were created by adding a prefix to the name of an ancestor, in this case, "Ó"; a usual prefix meaning "grandson/descendant of". After centuries of usage, the spelling changed due to anglicization, eventually becoming Killion. As with many last names, the interpretation can vary between regions and over time. Today, people bearing the surname Killion can be found primarily in the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

Killion: Where does the name Killion come from?

The surname Killion is believed to have Irish origin, and it is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "O Cillin", derived from the personal name "Cillin." The prefix "O" suggests a "male descendant of", reinforcing the name's original meaning "descendant of Cillin."

Although the surname is found sparsely across many English speaking countries due to migration, it's still considered quite uncommon. In modern times, the last name Killion is mainly found in the United States, likely due to individuals of Irish heritage who emigrated there during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century. According to public records, states like Indiana, Illinois, California, and Texas have relatively high concentrations of individuals with the Killion surname. Despite its relative ubiquity in these regions, the Killion name is still considered uncommon compared to other surnames. There are also a smaller number of Killions in Ireland, the UK, Canada, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Killion

The surname Killion has numerous variants, many of which originated from Ireland, where the surname's original Gaelic version "O' Cillin" was Anglicized to various versions. These versions include Killion, Killane, Killin, Killon, Kyllion, Killian, Killen, Killione, Kilian, Killiona, Kilion, Cillian, Cillín, and Killions.

Some of these spellings may alter slightly due to various influences like phonetic spellings, regional dialects, and literacy levels in historical records. Additionally, names beginning with "O'" or "Mc" can sometimes be associated with this name because these prefixes mean "descendant of" in Irish patronymic surnames.

The surname "Killian" is particularly common and may sometimes be confused with Killion. Meanwhile, "O'Killin" and "McKillin" are relatively uncommon but related variants. Alternate spellings can also include Killon and Killen, principally found in Ireland and the United States.

Although there can be some variance in the spelling of the surname, most versions should be recognizable as derivatives of the original name. Keep in mind that the evolutionary process of surname spellings is a typical occurrence in many cultures and not exclusive to Irish surnames.

Famous people with the name Killion

• Jack Killion: American comedian and actor
• Seth Killion: Major League Baseball (MLB) player
• Frank Killion: World War II draftsman and artist
• Dante Killion: Professional Basketball Player
• Audie Killion: Professional Football Player
• Robert Killion: Voiced character in Rugrats
• Chris Killion: Actor, known for Desperado and Dante’s Peak
• Mike Killion: Actor, known for The Gift
• Diana Killion: Voice actress, known for Lilo & Stitch
• Patrick Killion: Former MLB player

Other surnames

KillianKilliardKillickKillieKillierKilligerKilligrawKillikellyKillileaKillimetKillin