Surname Kilboy - Meaning and Origin

Kilboy: What does the surname Kilboy mean?

The last name Kilboy is of Irish origin and is most commonly found in the province of Connacht. It is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Baoith, which translates to "son of Giolla Baoith". The Gaelic is a combination of the two words “giolla” meaning “servant”, and “Baoith” meaning “beautiful”.

The Kilboy surname was likely first used in honor of a particular ancestor with a beautiful demeanor. In the early centuries after the Norman Invasion of 1171, many Gaelic families found it necessary to use the Anglicised form of their original names as the English language and culture spread throughout the country. Over time, many of these Gaelic families merged into the larger Irish population.

The Kilboy surname can be found today all across Ireland and the Irish Diaspora, from the Aran Islands to Australia. The original Gaelic form, Mac Giolla Baoith, can be found in parts of Connacht where Gaelic culture is strong, and Irish language speakers are still prominent.

The Kilboy family name today is still associated with a good character, and is a reminder of the many generations of Irish people who strived to live a life of honorable service.

Kilboy: Where does the name Kilboy come from?

The last name Kilboy is most commonly found in Ireland today. It is associated primarily with County Cavan, found in the Ulster Province of Northern Ireland, although other counties with significant Kilboy populations include Westmeath, Galway, Donegal and Mayo. The origins of Kilboy are obscure, although there are several theories proposed including the Gaelic Mac Giolla Bhuí which translates to "son of the yellow-haired one". This indicates a possible Norse origin as the Vikings were known to have invaded Ireland at various points in its history.

The estimated population of Kilboy in Ireland today is thought to be around 2000, with concentrations around the aforementioned counties, although it is possible that more individuals living with the Kilboy surname reside around the country. The surname in Ireland is not exclusively found there, however, with records showing that there has been migration to other places around the world, such as the United States, with some small pockets of Kilboys found in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Kilboy

The surname Kilboy is an anglicised version of the Irish surname Mac Giolla Bhuí, which is derived from the Irish words mac (“son”) and Giolla Bhuí (“servant of God”).

Common variants of the Kilboy surname include MacGillaboy, MacGillavoy, MacAlboy, MacElboy, and McAllboy. The prefix Mc is often used as a variation of Mac in the United States, in order to differentiate it from the numerous other spellings. In Scotland, the name is sometimes abbreviated to boy, as in "Boy."

The Galway spelling, which is the closest to the original Irish version of the name, is MacGiollaBhuí. In Connacht, it is sometimes Anglicized to MacGibbon.

Kilboy can also be found in Scotland in various spellings, such as Kilby, Kilbey, Kilday, Kilbey, and Kilday. The more common form of the name in Scotland is Kilby.

In the United States, the name is often shortened to Boy or Boi, while in England, it is sometimes shortened to Boye. In some cases, the name has been entirely altered by immigration authorities on the journey to the United States, for instance taking the form Gilbough, Gellbough or Kilba.

Overall, the Kilboy surname is an Anglicized version of the Irish surname Mac Giolla Bhuí, which means “son of the servant of God”. Variants of the surname include MacGillaboy, MacGillavoy, MacAlboy, MacElboy, and McAllboy, as well as Kilby, Kilbey, Kilday, Kilbey, and Kilday in Scotland. In some cases, the name has also been changed when travelling to the United States, such as taking the form Gilbough, Gellbough or Kilba.

Famous people with the name Kilboy

• Martin Kilboy: Irish hurler and Gaelic Footballer
• Leanne Kilboy: Irish businesswoman and entrepreneur
• Bill Kilboy: former professional rugby player from Western Australia
• Brian Kilboy: New Zealand rugby league player
• Chris Kilboy: former Canadian ice hockey player
• Seamus Kilboy: Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and Irish businessman
• Raymond Kilboy: Irish mathematician and academic
• Barry Kilboy: British cinematographer
• Hunter Kilboy: American legislative leader and politician from Delaware
• John Patrick Kilboy: American businessman and philanthropist

Other surnames

Kilbourne