Surname Gilmore - Meaning and Origin

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Z. Gilmore

Gilmore: What does the surname Gilmore mean?

The last name Gilmore is of Irish origin and is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Giolla Mhuire," which translates to "son of the servant of the Virgin Mary." This surname is derived from the personal devotion to the Virgin Mary, a common practice in early Christianity. The prefix "Mac" or "Mc" typically denotes "son of," while "Giolla" means servant, and "Mhuire" is the Gaelic form of Mary. Therefore, the Gilmore surname embodies religious servitude, reflecting a family history intimately tied to religious faith and dedication.

Gilmore: Where does the name Gilmore come from?

Gilmore is a surname of Irish origin. It evolves from the Irish Gaelic name "MacGiolla Mhuire," which is an amalgamation of the elements "mac," meaning "son of," "giolla," meaning "servant," and "Mhuire," the Gaelic form of "Mary." Hence, Gilmore loosely translates to "Son of Mary's Servant."

During the seventeenth century, many families with the Gilmore surname migrated to Scotland due to economic reasons and the destructive effects of war. Therefore, the name is quite common in Scotland as well. There was further dispersion of the name during the Irish diaspora, causing it to spread to England, America, Australia, and Canada.

Today, Gilmore is mainly prevalent in Northern Ireland and Scotland. It is also commonly found in the United States due to the migration of Irish and Scottish people during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The popularity of the surname was especially amplified in America by the success of the TV series "Gilmore Girls." Other countries with noteworthy concentrations include Canada, Australia, and England.

Variations of the surname Gilmore

The surname Gilmore originates from Irish (Gaelic) roots, specifically from Mac Giolla Mhuire, which translates to “son of the servant of (the Virgin) Mary.” Like many Irish surnames, it has undergone various spelling transformations over the centuries due to anglicization. As a result, several variants of Gilmore exist.

Among these are Gilmour, Gillmore, Gillmour, Gilmor, Gilmur, MacGilmore, MacGillmore, MacGilmour, and MacGillmour. Sometimes, a prefix like 'Mac' or 'Mc' can be added to these variations to create additional versions like MacGilmore or McGilmour.

It is important to note that there might be people with these last names who are not genetically related. As anglicization often led to multiple phonetically similar Gaelic surnames being translated into the same English surname, people with the last name Gilmore can have different genetic origins. Additionally, it's not uncommon for people to have changed their name to Gilmore (or its variants) upon emigration for ease of assimilation. Thus, while the numerous spellings of Gilmore share a linguistic origin, they do not necessarily indicate a shared genetic ancestry.

Famous people with the name Gilmore

• Artis Gilmore: An American retired basketball player.
• David Gilmore: A renowned British musician, singer and songwriter best known for his work with Pink Floyd.
• Jim Gilmore: Served as the 68th Governor of Virginia from 1998 to 2002. He also campaigned for the Republican nomination for President.
• Terry Gilmore: An internationally recognized Irish film and television director.
• Judith Gilmore: Award-winning Canadian actress known for her roles in Dead Man's Gun and Da Vinci's Inquest.
• Adam Gilmore: An American mathematician and developer of the Gilmore-Lawler algorithm.
• Karen Gilmore: A well-known illustrator of children's books.
• Greg Gilmore: Was a professional American football player.
• Rory Gilmore: A fictional character in the American TV series "Gilmore Girls", portrayed by Alexis Bledel.
• Lorelai Gilmore: Another fictional character in "Gilmore Girls", portrayed by Lauren Graham.
• Happy Gilmore: A character played by Adam Sandler in the comedy film of the same name.
• Gilmore Junio: A Canadian speed skater who has competed in multiple Winter Olympic games. Please note that some of these are fictional characters and some have Gilmour as the spelling, not Gilmore.

Other surnames

Gilmour