Surname Kilpatrick - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kilpatrick: What does the surname Kilpatrick mean?
The surname Kilpatrick is of Scottish origin and has both topographic and patronymic elements. The name is derived from the Gaelic elements 'kill' or 'cil', meaning 'cell' or 'church', and 'patrick', referring to Saint Patrick, the well-known patron saint of Ireland. Hence, the name Kilpatrick can be interpreted as 'follower of Saint Patrick' or 'church of Saint Patrick'. This name most likely originated to denote someone who lived near a church dedicated to Saint Patrick or who was a devoted follower of Saint Patrick. Over time, it became a hereditary surname. It is widely spread in areas of Scottish and Irish influence and has many variations, including Gilpatrick and Fitzpatrick. Like many surnames, the spelling has evolved over time and its different versions can be found all over the world.
Order DNA origin analysisKilpatrick: Where does the name Kilpatrick come from?
The surname Kilpatrick is of Scottish origin, stemming from the Gaelic 'Cille Pheadair', meaning "church of St. Peter". It was first used by families residing near one of the several locations named Kilpatrick in Scotland. This surname is often associated with two distinct clans in Scotland - Clan Colquhoun and Clan MacLaren. Over time, many Kilpatricks emigrated from Scotland due to economic and political reasons. Today, the surname Kilpatrick is quite common in the United States, particularly in states such as North Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi. It is also relatively common in England, Australia and Canada. Despite the migration, Scotland and Northern Ireland still house a significant population of Kilpatricks due to the name's historical roots. Variation of the surname across different regions include Kilpatric, Kilpatrik, and Kilpattrick. The family motto is "I make sure".
Variations of the surname Kilpatrick
The surname Kilpatrick has variants and derivations mainly stemming from its Irish and Scottish origins. These differences in names have occurred due to regional dialects and translations, making small changes to the name over time.
One of the most direct alternate spellings includes Kilpatric, simply missing out the 'k'. Other variants include forms that retain the meaning of the original name in Gaelic, "church of Patrick," such as Kilpatrik and Gilpatrick. The latter is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Phádraig, meaning "son of the servant of Patrick."
The surname may also be found as Kirkpatrick, particularly in Scotland. Kirk is the Scots word for church, consequently, the meaning of the name remains the same. Kilpadrig could be another variant of it.
Some surnames of the same origin include Patrick, Patric, Padraig and even Patricia. The prefix of 'Kil' or 'Gil' can be added to these names, leading to surnames like Kilpadrig, Kilpatrick, Gilpadrig and Gilpatrick.
With the huge number of Kilpatricks who emigrated to America, many other spellings of the name have also arisen due to transcription errors and Americanizations, leading to similar surnames like Culpatrick, Kelpatrick or Kipatrick.
Famous people with the name Kilpatrick
- Kyle Kilpatrick: American professional wrestler
- Emmett Kilpatrick: American baseball pitcher
- Finn Kilpatrick: American stuntman
- Hal Kilpatrick: American television actor
- Phyllis Kilpatrick: American author
- James Earl Kilpatrick: American journalist
- Ruth Kilpatrick: American interior decorator
- Donald Kilpatrick: Canadian rower
- Shelby Kilpatrick: English actress
- Harry Kilpatrick: Former member of the United States Congress
- Robert Kilpatrick: American minister
- Michael Kilpatrick: American army physician
- Robert Kilpatrick: American college football coach
- Steven Kilpatrick: American attorney
- Alan Kilpatrick: Canadian lawyer and author
- Scott Kilpatrick: Scottish Guard and professional beadworker
- John McWhorter Kilpatrick: American politician
- Sir William Kilpatrick: Governor of the New Zealand colony of Canterbury
- Miles Kilpatrick: American football coach
- Dwayne Kilpatrick: American basketball player