KILGALLEN
Kilgallen
The surname Kilgallen is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "Ó Cill Galláin" which means "descendant of Cill Galláin". The prefix "Ó" signifies "grandson" or "descendant of", while "Cill Galláin" is believed to refer to a saint or other religious figure.
History and Distribution
The Kilgallen surname is most commonly found in Ireland, particularly in the Connacht region. Over time, some individuals bearing the name emigrated to other parts of the world, including the United Kingdom and the United States.
Notable Individuals
One of the most prominent bearers of the surname Kilgallen was Dorothy Kilgallen (1913–1965), an American journalist and television personality best known for her appearances on the television game show What's My Line?.
Variants
Variants of the Kilgallen surname include Kilgallan, Kilgalen, and Kilgallin.
References
- MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. Dublin, Ireland: Irish Academic Press, 1985.
- Hanks, Patrick, et al. The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2016.
There are approximately 138 people named Kilgallen in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around two in a million people in Britain are named Kilgallen.
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Darryl
- David
- Edward
- Graham
- Ian
- James
- John
- Liam
- Matthew
- Paul
- Peter
- Rainer
- Richard
- Thomas
Female
- Barbara
- Brenda
- Jean
- Jennifer
- Jillian
- Kathleen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Natalie
- Rachelle
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.