Surname Kilgarrif - Meaning and Origin
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Kilgarrif: What does the surname Kilgarrif mean?
The meaning of the surname Kilgarrif is unclear, but it is thought to be of Irish descent. The name is most likely derived from the old Irish name “Mac Giolla Gharbháin” which is believed to mean “son of the rough devotee”.
The name first appeared in the late medieval period, during which time Ireland was a relatively poor and uneducated country, so it is highly likely that the Kilgarrif family comes from humble beginnings. It is believed that the family is of Gaelic origin, and they may even have descended from a leader of a Gaelic tribe.
The Kilgarrif family would have been mainly involved in occupations such as farming, fishing and small-scale trading. In modern times, the members of the Kilgarrif family are still quite active throughout the world, especially in the United States, where they are mainly found in the Midwest and on the West Coast.
The Kilgarrif family coat of arms is a golden shield with a green background and two hilts of swords placed above it. The shield is encircled by a crest of a green snake emerging from a red and gold crown. This symbolizes the courage and loyalty of the Kilgarrif family.
Today, members of the Kilgarrif family are proud of their surname, and there are many different branches of the family around the world scattered across many countries. The Kilgarrif name is sure to remain for centuries to come.
Order DNA origin analysisKilgarrif: Where does the name Kilgarrif come from?
The last name Kilgarrif is mostly associated with Ireland, particularly County Cork and the south-west region. It is an anglicised form of the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Chairbre or Mac Giolla Gearra, which roughly translates to "son of the devotee of St. Cairbre or St. Gearra". The name remained common in Cork and surrounding areas up until the early 20th century, when a wave of emigration to the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand saw a decline in its frequency. The Kilgarrif name is still quite common in parts of Cork, as well as pockets of parts of the United States, particularly in states such as New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. There are several thousand recorded instances of the name around the world, and though its popularity has probably seen some decline in recent generations through emigration and marriage to individuals of different surnames, it still remains widely recognised and popular in certain areas.
Variations of the surname Kilgarrif
The surname Kilgarrif originated in the Irish region of Ulster and is also known to be spelled in various ways, such as Kilgariff, Kilgariff, Kilstaf or Kilstraf.
Variations on the name Kilgarrif include Kilgeriffe, Kilgeryff and Kildariff. For those with German ancestry, variants include Kilgerif, Kiltariff and Klugeriff. As well as those with French ancestry, variants include Kilgerf and Gilderiff.
The surname Kilgarrif is also found among the Ashkenazic Jewish communities under the surnames Kligeriff, Klaugeriff and Kellgerif.
Kilgarrif is derived from the Irish surnames O'Cill Garbh, meaning "descendent of the fierce church" and Mac Giolla Garbh, meaning "son of the rough-haired servant".
Kilgarrif can also be found as variants in the US, including Kilgriff, Kilgerif and Kilgariff. In Scotland, variants include Kilgerriff, Kildariff and Kilgareif. In England, variants include Kiltarif and Kilgriff.
The Kilgarrif family originally lived near the Dublin-Kilkenny border and would have likely been among the numerous noble families in the area. Today, this surname is still common in both Ireland and the UK.
Famous people with the name Kilgarrif
- Eoin Kilgarriff: A computer scientist known for his work in computational linguistics.
- Richard Kilgarriff: A British actor best known for his role in the films Joe and Volcano.
- Christine Kilgarriff: An Irish actress who starred in the films, Ulysses and Breakfast on Pluto.
- Maria Kilgarriff: A professional dancer and choreographer who was recognised as the highest medalist in the American Dance Competition in 2005.
- Olive Kilgarriff: An Irish writer best known for her play, Flying Horse and plays associated with the Abbey Theatre.
- Aidan Kilgarriff: An Australian rugby player who made over 20 appearances for Irish national team.
- Conor Kilgarriff: A Paralympic swimmer who competed in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Paralympic Games.
- Mary Kilgarriff: An Irish designer, editor, and costumer who worked with the Radio Éireann Players.
- Tuberze Kilgarriff: A professional basketball player who currently plays for the Melbourne United team in the National Basketball League (NBL) of Australia.
- Rupert Kilgarriff: A British historian and author best known for his work on the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland.