Surname MacKilmore - Meaning and Origin
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MacKilmore: What does the surname MacKilmore mean?
The last name MacKilmore is of Scottish and Irish origin. It originated from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Mhoire, meaning Son of the Servant of Mary. This first appears in old records during the reign of King David I (1059-1124) and as such is one of the earliest documented surnames in Scotland.
The MacKilmore clan was based mainly in Inverness and Lochaber, and the name went on to spread throughout Scotland. In Irish, MacKilmore can mean Small Chief, however the Scottish translation is Son of the Servant of Mary. The MacKilmore family also gave rise to a number of sub-clans, which included such names as MacKillop, MacMillan, Mackinnon and MacPherson.
While the MacKilmore family was initially a sept (sub-clan) of the larger Maclean and MacDonald families, eventually they claimed independence, and the last chieftain was Donald MacKilmore who was forced to abdicate his position in 1692.
Although the original MacKilmore clan is now extinct, many people still bear the name today, and it is a proud reminder of the rich and varied heritage of Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKilmore: Where does the name MacKilmore come from?
The MacKilmore surname is most commonly found today in Scotland, where it is a variant of the MacMillan surname. It is also found in Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The origin of the name is traced back to the Scottish Isles and the Island of Mull, with some sources indicating that this spelling also became prominent in Ireland during the time of the Ulster Plantation. Records of the Isle of Mull in Scotland indicate the presence since at least 1445 when Gilmackilmory is recorded as appearing on a charter.
The earliest presence of the surname in the United States appears to be in the late 17th century when John McKilmore is recorded in 1701 in Boston.
Today, it is estimated that there are around 3100 people with the MacKilmore surname living in the United States. The majority of these can be found in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Georgia.
In Australia, the MacKilmore surname mostly originated from Scottish Americans who had emigrated too Australia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Though it's estimated there are only around one hundred MacKilmores in Australia today.
In New Zealand, the MacKilmore surname is most commonly found in Canterbury and Wellington. Records show that the surname first appeared in the New Zealand region in 1874.
Overall, the MacKilmore surname is most commonly found in Scotland, but can be found worldwide due to migrations, particularly from Scotland to North America and other nations like Australia and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname MacKilmore
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacKilmore include: MacAlmore, MacIlmor, MacElmore, MacElmour, MacKilmur, MacKillmore, McKelmor and McKillmour.
The surname MacKilmore comes from Scotland and is derived from the Gaelic Mac an Ghoill Mhoir meaning "son of the big stranger". It is believed to be of Irish origin and is found mostly in Scotland, and to a lesser extent in England.
The surname appears as MacAlmore in the Index of Fiants, which records Irish names in 16th- and 17th-century Ireland. It is also recorded in Scotland, primarily in the Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The surnames MacIlmor and MacElmour are variants of MacKilmore which have been found in Scotland in the book "The Surnames of Scotland" by George F. Black.
McElmor and McKillmour are some of the variations of MacKilmore which have been recorded in Northern Ireland. It is worth noting that McKillmour may also be a surname of Scottish origin, with the same spelling showing up in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The surname MacKilmore has also been recorded as MacKillmore, found in Scotland in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, as well as as McKelmor, which has been recorded in Northern Ireland.
Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of MacKilmore are numerous, reflecting its rich history and diverse geographical distribution.
Famous people with the name MacKilmore
- Ben MacKilmore, American dancer and former member of the Joffrey Ballet Company
- Richard MacKilmore, English vocalist, guitarist and songwriter
- Jonathan MacKilmore, Canadian mixed martial artist
- Grant MacKilmore, Irish-American comedian
- Andrew MacKilmore, British actor
- Mel MacKilmore, Canadian ice hockey player
- Paul MacKilmore, Australian tennis player
- Marv MacKilmore, American football coach
- Don MacKilmore, American football player
- Shane MacKilmore, American Paralympic Nordic skier 11.Greg MacKilmore, American co-creator of602 Abnormals
- Billy MacKilmore, American sculptor 13.Kaitlyn MacKilmore, American actress
- Tayah MacKilmore, American YouTube content creator
- William MacKilmore, English-American political activist and businessman
- Kyle MacKilmore, English actor
- Fred MacKilmore, English vocalist and songwriter
- Ailish MacKilmore, Irish actress
- Muriel MacKilmore, Canadian visual artist 20.Kelley MacKilmore, Australian architect.