Surname Kilgar - Meaning and Origin
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Kilgar: What does the surname Kilgar mean?
The last name Kilgar is a name of Gaelic origin. According to ancient manuscripts, the name Kilgar originated from a sept of the clans of O'Neill, who lived in the district of Fermanagh, in Northern Ireland.
The Kilgar family are most likely descended from a Gaelic personal name, 'Giolla Gearr', which means 'Servant of the short one'.
Despite its ancient roots, however, the last name Kilgar is not a common one in Ireland today, and is seldom seen elsewhere. In the United States, the name appears mainly in areas with large Irish immigrant populations, such as the Boston area and parts of New York and New Jersey.
In recent years, the name has seen a surge in popularity, especially among those of Irish descent. This may be due to a rise in interest in Irish heritage and culture, with many American-born persons of Irish ancestry seeking to learn more about their roots and reclaim their Celtic heritage.
The name Kilgar can also be seen in other parts of the world, with people bearing the name in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.
In short, the last name Kilgar is associated with the O'Neill sept, originating in Northern Ireland, and today can be seen in many parts of Ireland, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. It has also seen a surge in popularity in recent years, likely due to the renewed interest in Irish heritage and culture.
Order DNA origin analysisKilgar: Where does the name Kilgar come from?
The surname Kilgar is a variant spelling of the Irish surname Kilgariff, which is derived from the Irish (Gaelic) personal name Ó Cuilgheirigh or MacGiolla Gheirígh. The prefix Ó means descendant of or grandson, while Mac means son. This surname is chiefly found in the Province of Connacht, located in the western part of Ireland. There are currently no exact figures of the number of Kilgariff families in Ireland today, but estimates range from somewhere in the region of 3,000.
In terms of modern Kilgar families living outside of Ireland, accountancy firm Grant Thornton noted that the name was among the most common Irish surnames to be found in the United States and Australia. Figures from 2020 suggested that the name was reported by U.S. passport holders in nearly each of the 50 states, while it was the 22nd most popular name in the country with an estimated 16,443 people tracing their ancestory back to those bearing the Kilgariff surname.
Meanwhile, current records show that there are an estimated 4,122 people with Kilgar families living in Australia, with the majority of these being in New South Wales. The name is particularly common in Perth, where over 1,000 people with the surname Kilgar reside.
In conclusion, the surname Kilgar is most commonly found in the Province of Connacht in Ireland, however, there are a significant number of people in the United States, Australia, and other countries with Kilgar ancestry.
Variations of the surname Kilgar
The surname Kilgar can be spelled in many different ways, including Kilgarr, Kilker, Kelgar, Kilegar and Kilger, all of which are derived from several historical origins.
The surname Kilgar is most often associated with Irish and Scottish ancestry, but it originated from Old English, meaning “border land,” and was used to describe land situated at the perimeter of two distinct fields. The Kilgar surname was adapted by the early 20th century to be the name of a prominent farm in Antrim in the north of Ireland, and eventually the surname was adopted and spread throughout the Isles.
Kilgar is also a variant of the Scottish Kilgour, derived from “Kil”, meaning “church” and “gor” meaning “high point”, thus being a topographical surname for someone living near a church at the highest point.
In England, Kilgar is associated with the Scottish variant Kelgar, which is a shortened form of the name Kilwright, derived from “kyl” meaning “know”, and “wraght” meaning “read”. This indicated those with great intellect and those who attended universities.
The surname Kilgar is also derived in Ireland from the Gaelic name Mac Gilgearra, translated as “son of Gilgearra”. Gilgearra was a personal name derived from “gille” meaning “servant” and “Gearraidh” meaning “Gerald”.
The surname Kilgar is versatile and has been adopted in many forms throughout the centuries. Despite the many variants, all originate from a similar place—the border between Ireland and Scotland.
Famous people with the name Kilgar
- Orlagh Kilgar: Irish actress
- David Kilgar: American musician and sound engineer
- Brendon Kilgar: Founder of the Kilgar Group, a U.S-based financial, investment and consultancy firm
- Cameron Kilgar: Professional golfer from Michigan
- Michael Kilgar: Award-winning documentarian
- Tom Kilgar: U.S. Marine Corps veteran and 2016 congressional candidate
- Jessica Kilgar: Australian surf lifesaver and beach safety competitor
- Bill Kilgar: English football manager
- Matthew Kilgar: Pop/rock singer-songwriter and composer
- Mairi Kilgar: Award-winning autistic author and activist