Surname Kilmet - Meaning and Origin
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Kilmet: What does the surname Kilmet mean?
The last name Kilmet, is of German origin and comes from two elements: Kil, meaning ‘edge, border’, and Met, meaning ‘meadow’; the two together forming the literal meaning of ‘meadow at the edge’ or ‘meadow by the border’.
It is likely that this surname was from a geographical location, and originates from people who lived near the edge of a meadow. This type of place-name is called a hypename, which was commonly used in the sixteenth century in Germany and other parts of Europe. It is plausible that someone from this area may have adopted the name as a surname when surnames were adopted in Germany from about the eleventh and twelfth centuries.
Uses of the surname Kilmet can be found in various records, chiefly in Germany but also in other parts of Europe. It often refers to families from the Rhineland area of Germany, such as those recorded as living in Prussen in the fifteenth century. It can also be found later in Austria, Switzerland and Norway.
Today, the name Kilmet can be spotted in various countries but is still predominantly found in its home territory of Germany. Whilst its literal translation may not have such relevance today as it once may have had, its history will have been preserved in many families who can trace their name back to a particular place. For those with Kilmet as their surname, they can commemorate their German past, and the literal meaning of their name, as testament to their family’s unique history.
Order DNA origin analysisKilmet: Where does the name Kilmet come from?
The last name Kilmet is a relatively rare last name today, but it has a long and rich history.
Kilmet is believed to originate from the smaller Germanic regions of the Netherlands and Belgium. It's earliest recorded use is believed to be from 1646 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. From there, the Kilmet last name has become more common over the centuries and can be seen across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany today.
Family members bearing the last name have eventually migrated to the United States, Canada and other parts of Europe, although the numbers are much lower than in its country of origin. According to records, there are currently less than 40 people in the United States with the last name Kilmet.
In the Netherlands, the Kilmet surname is most commonly associated with the province of Limburg and the cities of Maastricht and Heerlen. This is the region where the first records of the Kilmet surname could be found, and it continues to be the center of the Kilmet population today. In the United States, the distribution of Kilmet families are most heavily concentrated in the mid-west states of Michigan and Illinois, but there are also small clusters in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana.
Overall, the Kilmet name is slowly decreasing in number as time goes on, although there are still pockets of people with the Kilmet surname spread across various areas of the world.
Variations of the surname Kilmet
The surname Kilmet is an anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic name MacGilleMhoire, which is derived from the Irish Gaelic name Mac Giolla Mhuire. This masculine personal name is composed of the elements mac, meaning “son” and Giolla, meaning “devotee of” and Mhuire, which is a form of Mary.
Other variants of the surname Kilmet include McGillemhoire, Kilmure, Kilmoor, Kilmore, Kilmur, and Kilmair. These are all variants of the original Gaelic spelling and refer to the same origin.
Other derivatives of the Kilmet surname include Kilmyer, MacKilmet, MacGillemeuree, Kilmetbaugh, Kilmetz, McGilmeur, McGilmour, and McGillemeur. These regional spellings refer to the various dialects and pronunciations found in Scotland and Ireland.
Aptonymn is another variant of Kilmet and derives from the combination of two words, the original MacGilleMhoire surname and the surname Apt. Aptonymns are ancestral names which have been changed to reflect a family's new country of origin. Examples of Kilmet Aptonyms are Kilmet Apt, MacGillemhoire Apt, Kilmoor Apt, and MacGillemeur Apt.
Surnames with the same origin as Kilmet include McGilmeur, MacGillemhoire, McGillemeur, and Kilmair. These are either direct variants or related surnames which are ultimately derived from the same origin.
To summarise, the surname Kilmet has many variants, spellings, and related surnames. The variants and spellings are derived from regional dialects, pronunciations, and Mariology, while related surnames come from similar origin. Aptonyms are also derived from the same origin, and add an interesting twist to the surname's history.
Famous people with the name Kilmet
- Zane Kilmet: former NRL player turned fitness instructor, entrepreneur and social media influencer.
- Delroy Kilmet: former professional soccer player who is now a coach.
- Nick Kilmet: Emmy-nominated screenwriter and film producer.
- Krissy Kilmet: singer-songwriter and musician in the Los Angeles area.
- Jia-Kim Kilmet: former NFL player who is now an NFLPA certified contract advisor.
- Jolene Kilmet: professional dancer and choreographer.
- Yulia Kilmet: international judo champion.
- Andrew Kilmet: award-winning chef and restaurateur.
- Rebecca Kilmet: Youtuber and lifestyle blogger.
- Maria Kilmet: contemporary painter.