Surname Killegar - Meaning and Origin
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Killegar: What does the surname Killegar mean?
The last name Killegar is of Irish origin and is part of a larger family of surnames from the group of surnames known as the O'Clearys. These surnames were derived from the clan of the O'Clearys who were located in the Irish province of Ulster in the 16th century.
The surname Killegar comes from the Irish phrase “cill eagar”, which translates as “church of the yew”. This phrase likely refers to a particular church in the Killegar area of Ulster. It is also possible that the surname could be derived from the term “cill leagaire” which means “church of the monkey”, referring to a particular church in the Killegar area.
The Killegar family can trace its roots back to some of the most prominent families in Irish history, including the O'Neills, the O'Donnells, the O'Briens, and the Maguires. Many of the Killegar surname holders settled in the western part of Ireland, in counties such as Galway, Mayo, and Sligo.
Today, the Killegar name can be found all over the world, with a particularly large presence in the United States. In fact, in the United States, the Killegar name is one of the top 1000 most popular surnames.
As a whole, the Killegar name is a representation of the proud and stoic spirit of the Irish people, with a long and noble history of military service and hard work.
Order DNA origin analysisKillegar: Where does the name Killegar come from?
The surname Killegar is thought to have originated in Scotland, though its exact origin is a bit of a mystery. It is believed to have descended from the Northern Irish/Scottish surname MacLeice, which is derived from 'son of Leices'. The Ulster-Scots spelling of MacLeices was 'MacLigar'.
Today, the surname Killegar is found in a few countries throughout the world, with the majority of those who bear the name living in the United Kingdom and Ireland. There is also a significant number of Killegars living in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. In recent years, the name has become increasingly popular in the United States, Australia, and Canada, and is now the third most popular surname in Canada.
In Scotland, Killegar is found mainly in the Borders region and is particularly popular in the counties of Dumfries and Galloway and Selkirk. In the United Kingdom, the surname is also found in Cornwall, Devon, and Oxfordshire. In Ireland, the surname is most commonly found in Meath, with smaller concentrations in Belfast, Londonderry, Donegal, and Dublin.
The surname has also spread around the world. In the United States, people with the surname Killegar are found in many states, but the most popular states are Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York. In Canada, the surname is most commonly found in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. It is also found in Australia, primarily in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.
Overall, the Killegar surname is quite widespread and can be found all over the world. It is particularly popular in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Killegar
Killegar is a surname of Scottish origin, which was originally derived from the Gaelic language and subsequently Anglicized. The variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the Killegar surname include the following:
Killegrew/Killegerow/Killgerow/Killego/Killegoe/Kellego/Kellegoe/Kellegow/Kellegow/Kelegoe/Kellegoue/Kellegough/Killegrue/Killgru/Kilgerue/Kilgerow/Kilgerowe/Kilgeroux/Kilgerow/Kilgrowe/Killgrew/Kelgrowe/Kilgrow/Kilgrue/Kylgru/Kelgrue/Kilgeru/Kylgroe/Kelgrue/Kilgerow.
These spellings are drawn from several different linguistic and dialectical roots, and can represent both Scottish and Irish origins of the Killegar surname. The most common Scottish variations are Killegrew and Killegerow, while the most common Irish variations are Kellego, Kellegoe, Kellegow, and Kellegoue. Other variations may exist as well, depending on the dialectical and linguistic roots.
Killegar, as a surname, is a patronymic name that is derived from the given name Mac Giolla Gearr, which means “son of the short man” or “son of the brave man”. This patronymic name was used as an identification for the Killegar family or clan. As a result, the variations and surnames of the same origin for Killegar may take similar forms, such as Gilligear, Gilligar, Gillegar, Gillego, Gillagor, Gilgoe, Gilgow, and Gillett.
Famous people with the name Killegar
- Martin Kliegman, American television director and actor
- Stan Kliegman, American jazz vocalist and multi-instrumentalist
- Charles Kliegman, American urban planner and architect
- Tom Killegar, Canadian actor
- Mark Killegar, American lawyer
- Arlynn Kliegman, also known as "Mother Killegar", American Catholic nun
- Jack Kliger, American publishing executive
- Claudia Kliegman, Polish violinist and composer
- Knox Kliegman, American chef and restaurateur
- Eric Killegar, American actor
- Jim Killegar, American stuntman
- Paul Killegar, British interior designer
- Stephen Killegar, American artist
- Barclay Kliegman, American historian and documentary photographer
- Chuck Kliegman, American sound designer and audio engineer
- Erika Kliegman, American author
- Kenneth Killegar, Canadian-American actor and singer
- Linda Killegar, American musician
- Richard Kliegmann, American neurosurgeon
- Nate Killegar, American football player