Surname Kilty - Meaning and Origin
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Kilty: What does the surname Kilty mean?
The last name Kilty is thought to be of Irish origin. It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone who was particularly skilled or talented in some way, derived from the Old Irish caolte, meaning a “swift runner” or “ingenious person.” The name Kilty can also be found in England, where it likely originated from the Scottish name Mac Giolla Chainnigh, a Gaelic surname meaning “son of one associated with St. Kenneth's Church”.
The surname has a long history in Ireland, first appearing in documents in the year 1220. The name was particularly common in County Clare, and it is found in records as far back as 1605. In 1684 the Kilte family can also be found in the United States, with a settler named Robert Kilty having emigrated there from Ireland.
The popularity of the name Kilty in Ireland has decreased significantly since the late 1970s. Nonetheless, families with the name can still be found living in Ireland, England, Scotland, and the United States.
The name Kilty is most closely associated with the concept of being of a high level of skill or talent, an idea that may be applied to the accomplishments of any person bearing the surname. It may also be used to describe someone who is agile, intuitive and quick-thinking. The Kilty name continues to serve as a symbol of intelligence, ability and determination.
Order DNA origin analysisKilty: Where does the name Kilty come from?
The last name Kilty is primarily found in Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK). The regions in the UK where the name is most common include the East Midlands, the South East, the North East and Scotland.
In Ireland, the counties where the name is most popular are Munster, mainly in Cork and in Clare and Connacht, mainly in Galway and Mayo. An interesting fact is that the name is quite rare, occurring at an average frequency of only 0.37% in the population of England and Wales at the 2011 census, making it the 859th most common name.
Globally, the surname Kilty is found in several countries, including the United States, where it is known to be quite popular, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, and more.
The history of the surname Kilty indicates it is of Irish origin, and derived from the Gaelic "os ceallaigh". It is an old Irish name, originally used as an anglicised version of the Gaelic personal name "ceallach". This name is derived from the Irish word "ceall" which means ‘church’ or ‘battle’. The surname Kilty is also found in some parts of Scotland, due to Scots-Irish immigration.
The name Kilty has spread far and wide around the world, with many variations including McKilty, McKillip, Kilty, Keilty, Keady, and more. Its Irish origin, rare frequency in the population, and global exposure makes this surname quite unique!
Variations of the surname Kilty
The surname Kilty is an anglicized form of the Irish name Ó Coilleachtaigh. It originated from the Gaelic word ‘coillteach’ which means ‘woodland’ and was used as a byname for someone who lived in a wooded area. The variants, spellings, and surnames of origin for the name Kilty include Killtey, Killety, Kiltey, Kilty, Ó Coilleachtaigh, Ó Coileachtaigh, and Ó Cuilleachtaigh.
The surname can be found in Ireland since the 13th century, and the people belonging to this chiefly lineage where highly esteemed in the West of Ireland and Galway in particular. The clan of Kilty was most prominent in the neighbourhoods of Galway City, Spiddle, Lough Atalia, and Clonmel. In 1901, the population of Kilty was at 2,634, and in what is now the Republic of Ireland, the Kilty's population was 514.
The surname has also been used as an anglicized form of other Gaelic names such as Gualterus, Mac an Choilich, Mac Cuileatach, and Mac Tuileatach. That is why today might be spelled not only as Kilty but also as MacKilty, MacCilty, MacGalty, and MacWalty.
Some non-Irish variants of the surname could be Keltie, Kiltie, Keltty, Celtty, and Quelch. In other parts of the world, the surname Kilty is used for example in England, The United States, and Canada. The Kilty's spread beyond their home of Ireland, and still today the surname is prevalent around the world.
Famous people with the name Kilty
- Cian Kilty: Irish two-time world champion in the 800 metres track event.
- Laura Kilty: Irish actress known for her performances in Fair City.
- Pat Kilty: Irish professional footballer and coach.
- Bob Kilty: Australian rules football coach and former player.
- Dean Kilty: Irish Olympic swimmer.
- Aaron Kilty: Irish rapper and producer.
- Keith Kilty: Irish DFES researcher and campaigner.
- Taylor Kilty: American actor known for roles in Unfaithful and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
- John Kilty: American heavy-metal frontman and songwriter.
- Ellen Kilty: Irish chemist and senior lecturer.
- William Kilty: British documentary filmmaker and photographer.
- Andrew Kilty: Irish cyclist and world record holder.
- Brett Kilty: Australian NASCAR driver.
- Duncan Kilty: Irish television presenter and journalist.
- Ray Kilty: American voice actor.