Surname Kilrane - Meaning and Origin

Kilrane: What does the surname Kilrane mean?

The Irish surname Kilrane derives from the Gaelic name O' Cilliarain, a derivative of the Irish word 'cilliar' which means 'beloved'. The name is commonly associated with County Wexford, where branches of the family lived before the 19th century. The family name is said to have descended from Fiacha Caolbhreagh, a prominent chieftain of Leinster in the 5th century.

The Kilrane surname is said to be a sept (branch) of the O'Connor Clan, which held a large domain in southeast Ireland for centuries before being dispersed both abroad and inside the country during the plantation of Wexford. The Irish branch of the surname is frequently found in the counties of Galway and Wexford, but can also be found around the world in the wake of Irish emigration.

The surname Kilrane thus has a long, noble history, tracing its roots far back into the mists of Irish history, and represents a proud tradition of Irish ancestry.

Kilrane: Where does the name Kilrane come from?

The last name Kilrane is of Irish descent and originates from the County of Sligo in the province of Connacht in Ireland. It is still common throughout parts of Ireland, mainly around the Sligo region. It is also common among Irish diaspora in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Canada.

The name Kilrane is derived from the Gaelic name O'Ceallachain and was adopted by a variety of ancient families associated with the kingdom of Magh Luirg, an area of County Sligo that featured heavily in the bloodiest days of Irish history during the country's nine year civil war in the 16th and 17th centuries. The most prominent of the families today are the O'Kilrane's of Coolavin.

In recent years the name Kilrane has become less common in Ireland due to emigration, but remains a strong presence in Irish culture. Many of the descendants of the ancient O'Kilrane families still remain in the Sligo area, living in close knit communities and holding onto their Irish identity through traditional values and beliefs.

The name is also popular in other parts of the world, largely owing to the presence of a strong Irish diaspora where it is most popular in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is also commonly found among Irish communities in mainland Europe and beyond.

Variations of the surname Kilrane

Kilrane is an Irish surname of Norman- French origins which was first used in the Ulster Province of Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic "Ó Cilraoin" which is the Irish form of the surnames Kilran, Kilranne, Kilranny, Kilrany, etc. It is also found in other parts of the Irish diaspora such as the UK, Canada and the United States.

Variants

Kilran: Also spelled Kilrane, Kilranne, Kilirany or Kilirani. This homespun form of the original Gaelic name is the most widely used variant of Kilrane.

Kilraney: A variation of Kilrane which is derived from the combination of the prefix and suffix of Kilran's original form.

Kilarine: A variant which is often used in America, and is a spelling of Kilrane which is believed to be a mutation of the original Gaelic form.

Spellings

Kilraín: This is an Irish-language spelling of Kilrane and is believed to be a variant of either the original Gaelic form or the homespun spelling.

Kilraing: This spelling of Kilrane is primarily used in Scotland and Ireland.

Kilráne: A Gaelic-language spelling which is used in Scotland more than anywhere else.

Surnames

Kilran: A surname which is a North American variant of the original home-spun form of Kilrane.

Kilraine: A surname which is a variant of Kilrane and was found mainly in the United Kingdom.

Kilraine-Daly: A surname which is a combination of the Kilrane and Daly surnames. It is believed to have originated in Ireland and is widely used throughout Ireland today.

Kilrane-McCormack: A surname which is a combination of Kilrane and McCormack surnames. It is a rare form which may have stemmed from families who moved to the United States from Ireland in the 19th century.

Famous people with the name Kilrane

• Mick Kilrane: former professional footballer
• Richard Kilrane: retired Canadian professional hockey player
• Mark Kilrane: hurler from the Irish sports team Wexford
• Megan Kilrane: Ireland rugby star
• Edward Kilrane: American actor
• Seamus Kilrane: Irish singer
• Eileen Kilrane: Irish politician
• Sarah-Jane Kilraine: former professional diver
• Liam Kilrane: Irish WRC rally driver
• Damien Kilrane: Director of the Irish public relations and communications firm, Kilrane PR

Other surnames

Kilrain