Surname Killough - Meaning and Origin

Killough: What does the surname Killough mean?

The surname Killough is derived from Old Gaelic and most likely originated in Scotland, Ireland, or the Isle of Man. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Choille, which translates to "son of the devotee of the church." This surname is most commonly associated with Presbyterian Irish clans and is a derivative of the Mac Gille Uidhir clan. In some regions of Ireland, the Mac Gille Uidhir clan was also referred to as Mac Killough.

The Killough surname can also be found in parts of Wales and Northern England, though its origin in these regions is unclear. It is possible that the surname was carried over by Scottish or Irish emigrants who migrated to Wales or Northern England for trade or employment purposes. In Scotland, the Killough clan is associated with the MacKinlay and Kincaid families. In Ireland, the Killough surname is more commonly associated with Irish nobility.

The Killough family crest is typically blue and gold and features a dragon or lion at the center. This designation is symbolic of loyalty, courage, and strength and was chosen because these traits are associated with the family's own history. The Killough name has continued to be used proudly by its many descendants, who take pride in their family's long history and honored traditions.

Killough: Where does the name Killough come from?

The surname Killough is most commonly found throughout the British Isles and its colonies, including England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the United States. The Killough surname is also found in New Zealand, Australia, and even in some regions of Africa.

In the United States, the last name is most commonly found in the South, especially in the states of Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina. It is also concentrated in the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. These states border each other and have historically shared a cultural and political history. Today, the Killough surname is also spread throughout the entire United States.

Within the United Kingdom, the most common modern concentrations of the name are within Northern Ireland and Scotland. In England, the surname is scattered and spread across the country, although is most frequently recorded in the north-west region. In Wales, the name is more frequently encountered in the south-central region.

The surname Killough is an anglicized form of the given name Cuilén. The name in Scotland could be derived from an old Gaelic personal name, Coilgen; alternatively, elsewhere in the British Isles the settlers could trace their name to the manor house in the parish of Killough, in County Down, Northern Ireland. Despite its distribution throughout the British Isles and its colonies, the Killough surname remains a relative unknown and the exact source and reasoning behind its presence today is not known with any certainty.

Variations of the surname Killough

The surname Killough is of Irish origin and is usually spelled as Killough, Kilough, or Killoughney. It is thought to come from the Irish Gaelic Mac Giolla Dhomhnaigh which translates to "son of the devotee of Saint Domhangh". It is most common in the counties of County Antrim, County Down, and County Fermanagh, but is also found in other regions in Indonesia, South Africa, and Canada.

Variations and spellings include Kelloughe, Kellock, Killock, Kilok, Kollock, Killoch, Killochee, Killoughney, Killogh, Killoughan, Killy, Killeigh, Killeaugh, Killah, Kilah, Kilgah, Killeegh, Killugh, Kilgough, Kilgogh, Kilgo, and Killig.

The surname Killough is also sometimes used with surnames of other origins such as Dollough, Daylough, Dunlough, Finlough, Farlough, and Lough. It can also take on multiple spelling forms, such as Killoch and Killok, although these spellings are much less common.

Occasionally, the spelling Killough has been mistaken for Kelley, but this is incorrect. Similarly, Killough has been mistakenly transcribed as Kilraine; however, this is also incorrect.

Although the surname Killough has been firmly established in the counties of Antrim, Down, and Fermanagh since the 17th century, it has since spread around the world, with many people bearing the surname Killough in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia.

Famous people with the name Killough

• Ann Killough, award-winning poet
• Mike Killough, former Los Angeles Raiders cornerback
• Jim Killough, Hollywood screenwriter
• Andy Killough, professional pool player
• Connor Killough, American soccer player
• Andrea Killough, professional cross-country skier
• Joseph Killough, American astronaut
• John Killough, award-winning playwright
• Mary Killough, author and educator
• Samuel Killough, American Revolutionary War colonel
• Don Killough, American football player
• John Owen Killough, American professional golfer
• Phyllis Killough, talent agent
• Robert E. Killough, American soldier
• Robert Killough, American politician
• Major Killough, American college football player

Other surnames

Killoughrey