Surname Kilrain - Meaning and Origin

Kilrain: What does the surname Kilrain mean?

The last name Kilrain is thought to be of Irish origin. It is typically anglicized from the Gaelic surname "Mac Giolla Riabhaigh" which means "son of a servant of St. Riabhaigh". Riabhaigh was an abbot in the early medieval period.

The Kilrain surname is found primarily in counties Sligo, Galway, and Roscommon in Ireland, where it was associated with the Galway-Roscommon border region. In addition to Ireland, the Kilrain surname can also be found in areas of England such as Lancashire, Cheshire, and London.

There is also an association between the surname Kilrain and a battle that took place in the U.S. Civil War. This battle, which was fought in July 1863, was the last major skirmish of the war and was known as the Battle of Kilrain. It was named after a Confederate soldier named Patrick Kilrain who was mortally wounded during the fight.

Kilrain is a unique name with a long and interesting history. It originated with a religious figure from the medieval period, and later became associated with a battle in the United States Civil War. It is strongly linked with areas in Ireland, England, and the United States, and is a reminder of the interesting connection between the two.

Kilrain: Where does the name Kilrain come from?

The surname Kilrain is of Irish origin, likely emerging from the Gaelic term “Mac Giolla Riain,” meaning “devotee of [Saint] Riain.” The surname is now most commonly found in Northern Ireland, especially in Counties Armagh, Down, and Tyrone. In the United States, the name is uncommon, but relatively more frequent among those of Irish descent. The state of Massachusetts is home to the highest concentration of people with the last name Kilrain, followed by Connecticut, New York, California, and Virginia.

In Ireland, the name Kilrain is most popularly found in the Province Ulster, especially in the aforementioned counties. Belfast, Armagh, and Downpatrick are major cities in Ulster where the name is particularly prevalent.

The border area between Counties Donegal and Fermanagh is another prime spot for the name and is rampant with Kilrains. Immigrants to the United States with the Irish surname Kilrain were likely from these border counties as well.

Unfortunately, in recent years, Kilrain has been losing popularity both in Ireland and the U.S., according to name-frequency data (“Kilraine” is generally considered a variant spelling). With proper research, one may be able to find a notable Kilrain, likely of Irish ancestry, living in the U.S. today.

Variations of the surname Kilrain

Kilrain is a surname of Irish origin. Its variants include Kilraine, Kilraine, Kilran, Killrain, Kilraine, Kylrane, Kylrain, Kylraine, and Kylrane. The name is derived from the Irish Ó Cill Ratháin, meaning “descendant of Rathán”.

The name Rathán was first found among the ancient Irish clans of Ulster, where the sept of O'Cill Ratháin, meaning "descendants of Rathán" were very powerful. This was then Anglicized to Kilrain.

Kilraine or Kilraine is an alternate spelling of Kilrain. It is a variant of Kilraine, and the spelling suggests an Irish origin. The name Kilraine may also have developed from humanity, or humanity in general, since the two Gaelic words, cille, meaning ‘cell’, and riain, meaning ‘king’, make up the name.

Kilran or Killrain is another variant of the surname Kilrain that comes from an Irish origin. The name Kilran may trace its roots to the Old Irish word cill, meaning ‘church’, and Rathán, the personal name of a legendary leader.

Kylrane is another variant of Kilrain, and it is derived from an Irish name. The Irish form of the name is Ó Cill Ratháin, which is made up of the Gaelic words cille, meaning ‘cell’, and riain, meaning ‘king’.

Kylrain is another spelling of the name Kilrain. It is derived from the Irish Ó Cill Ratháin, and is a combination of the Gaelic words cille, meaning ‘cell’, and riain, meaning ‘king’.

Kylraine is a variant of Kilrain, and is derived from an Irish name. The Irish form of the name is Ó Cill Ratháin, which is composed of the Gaelic words cille, meaning ‘cell’, and riain, meaning ‘king’.

Famous people with the name Kilrain

• John Kilrain: an American heavy-weight boxer in the late 1800s. He is most famously remembered for a grueling 75 round fight with Jake Kilrain, his arch-rival and best friend.
• Peter Kilrain: an American football player who played in the former United States Football League and the National Football League. He co-owns a fitness center in Georgia.
• Richard Kilrain: an American pianist and composer. He is best known for his composition of the Broadway show “Ziegfeld Follies of 1936”.
• Raymond Kilrain: an American actor. He is best known for his roles in popular television series such as “Barney Miller” and “Gimme a Break!”
• Ryan Kilrain: a British actor. He has appeared in the films “The Holiday”, “Scoop” and “The Libertine”.
• Michael Kilrain: an American corporate executive and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Abercrombie & Fitch. He also serves as Chairman of the Products Division of Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
• Jacob Kilrain: an American boxer who was the chief rival of John Kilrain. He is most famously remembered for a grueling 75 round fight with his arch-rival and best friend.
• Charles Kilrain: an American philanthropist and financial services executive. He is also the Chairman and CEO of C.P. Kilrain & Associates, LLC.
• Miles Kilrain: an American diplomat. He was the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2002 to 2006.
• David Kilrain: a United States Navy veteran and business executive. He was the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Business and Industry Business Unit of Nokia Corporation.

Other surnames

Kilrane