Surname Killoughrey - Meaning and Origin

Killoughrey: What does the surname Killoughrey mean?

The surname Killoughrey is believed to be of Irish origin and has been found most frequently in Northern Ireland. The name likely originated from combinations of two different words, “Cill” meaning “church” and “Oghaire” meaning a personal name with a Gaelic meaning of “descendant of Oghaire”.

In many cases, Killoughrey was used as an anglicised version of the Gaelic name O’Ceallaigh meaning “descendant of Ceallach”. Ceallach was a Celtic name that comes from “ceall” and it means “beloved”.

It is believed that the surname Killoughrey is connected to the Cenél nEogain dynasty, which is one of the four great dynasties of Ireland. This is because the surname has been associated with Donegal, which is part of the Cenél nEogain kingdom.

The lands that originally belonged to the Killoughrey family were located in the barony of Kilmacrenan and were shared by two branches, the Hogan and the Gallagher. The Gallagher branch held the north and the Hogan family held the south.

As a result, the name Killoughrey has a rich and ancient history of being associated with the Celtic people of Ireland. This history has carried on into present day, making it a powerful surname that is connected to Ireland’s unique Celtic culture and identity.

Killoughrey: Where does the name Killoughrey come from?

The surname Killoughrey is mostly concentrated in Northern Ireland and originating from County Down. It is a fairly uncommon name today and can be found mainly in the United Kingdom and in some parts of the United States.

North Wales, Lancashire, Cheshire and Derbyshire in England also have a higher than average concentration of the surname. Killoughrey was first recorded in County Down and is thought to be a branch of the Magennis clan.

Due to Irish emigration in the 19th century, the name then spread to the United States. It is most common in California, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois, and Ohio. There are also Killoughreys in Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio, although at a smaller scale.

Killoughreys can also be found in Australia and other countries in Europe, including France, Sweden, and Norway. However, the Killoughrey name is relatively uncommon all over the world. Consequently, it can be difficult to trace Killoughrey ancestries and build a family tree.

Variations of the surname Killoughrey

Killoughrey is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic O'Cilleachra, which can be translated into “descendent of Cilleachra”. The Cilleachra in question was a chieftain in Connacht during the 11th century. The original form of the name is still used in parts of Ireland, and there are numerous variations of the spelling, all derived from Irish surnames.

Variants of Killoughrey include Kilockerney, Kilockery, Killachery, Killacrory, Killokerrie, Killory, Killoory, Killaurry, and Killoughry. Generally, the Irish spellings have the Irish prefix “O’” or “Mac”, as opposed to “Kil”.

Spellings of Killoughrey include Kilockerney, Kilocery, Kilachery, Kilacrory, Kilokerrie, Kilory, Kiloory, Kilaurry, Kiloughry, and O’Cilleachra.

Surnames derived from Killoughrey include Cockerney, Cheddar, Courry, Lowry, Loury, O’Cadhla, O’Cillory, and O’Cillaray. The “-er” ending is common with many of these surnames, indicating a connection to the original form of Killoughrey.

In the United States, theKilloughrey surname is often seen spelled without an apostrophe (Killoughrey). This could be because the apostrophe was dropped during the immigration process, or because the original name was changed in an effort to Americanize it.

In conclusion, Killoughrey is an Irish surname, with many variants, spellings, and derived surnames. The O’Cilleachra is the oldest form of the surname, and variations of the spelling have existed since the 11th century. In the United States, the Killoughrey surname is often seen without an apostrophe, which could be the result of Americanization. With such a long and varied history, this surname is sure to continue its journey into the future.

Famous people with the name Killoughrey

• Barry Killoughrey: Irish rugby union player with 29 caps for his country.
• Cahir Killoughrey: Irish hurler and Gaelic footballer with the Roscommon county team, winning an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1943.
• Carla Killoughrey: Canadian freestyle skier who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in the moguls event.
• Edmond Killoughrey: Irish barrister and politician who was active in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
• Ian Killoughrey: English footballer who represented Bradford City at the end of the 19th century and early 20th century.
• Mark Killoughrey: Irish artist, sculptor, and professor at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin.
• Melvin Killoughrey: American-British academic and professor of media arts and design at Bournemouth University.
• Mike Killoughrey: Canadian ice hockey player who represented the Ottawa Senators in the NHL from 1994 to 1995.
• Neal Killoughrey: Australian rugby union player who represented Western Australia in their inaugural 1957-58 season.
• Robyn Killoughrey: Canadian Paralympic athlete who represented Canada in the 1972 Summer Paralympics.

Other surnames

Killough