Surname Gillmartin - Meaning and Origin

Gillmartin: What does the surname Gillmartin mean?

The last name Gillmartin is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Mairtin, which translates as “son of the devotee of Saint Martin”. The surname is most commonly found in counties Donegal, Mayo and Leitrim in the northwestern corner of the island.

The name is derived from the personal name Giolla Mairtin, which is derived from the Saint. Saint Martin of Tours was a popular figure in Latin and Celtic Christianity, remembered chiefly for building a hospital and devoting his funds to the needy. Martin was renowned as a great Christian warrior, sacrificing deeply for the benefit of others.

Gillmartin family members honored Martin's selflessness and dedication to his faith, taking his name and becoming devotees of his memory. This may be evidenced by the fact that some variants of the surname contain the words “machin”, “magillen”, or “gilmartan”, all of which reference the religion of Christianity.

The name Gillmartin is thus a reminder of the dedication of Irish families to their faith as well as their strong connection to their settlements and heritage. It is a name of distinction and enduring pride for its holders, symbolizing both a legacy of Christian devotion and a link to the rich Irish culture.

Gillmartin: Where does the name Gillmartin come from?

The last name Gillmartin is primarily found today in Ireland and in parts of the United Kingdom. In Ireland, it is most commonly seen in counties Cork, Sligo, and Waterford. In Northern Ireland, it is more commonly seen in counties Donegal and Fermanagh.

In terms of what other countries the Gillmartin name is prevalent in, it is found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, indicating that it is not exclusive to just Ireland and the U.K. In all these countries, it is more commonly found in states/provinces located in the eastern part of the region, although it is sometimes found in more central and western parts of the North American continent.

Since Gillmartin is an Irish surname, it is safe to say that it is most commonly found in areas with large ancestral Irish populations, such as on the East Coast of the United States and in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. As more Irish people have joined the diaspora and moved to other countries, the surname has spread and become more common in these countries as well.

Variations of the surname Gillmartin

Gillmartin is an anglicized version of the Irish surname Mac Giolla Mhartain, which translates to "son of the follower of St. Martin."The earliest construction of this surname in County Galway, Ireland, was recorded in the year 1372.

Variants of Gillmartin include: Mac Gille Mara, MacGillmar, Gilmour, Kilmour, McElmurray, Gilmartin, Kilmartin, McElmartin, Gillmar, Gilmartine, and Gillmartine.

In some cases, spelling variations for Gillmartin can include M'Elmerry, MacElmerry, MacElmurray, Gillmor, Gillmors, Gilmard, Kilmaster, Mcallmurry, and Macgillmartin.

The spelling variants of Gillmartin could include MacGillemara, MacGillmara, MacGilmara, MacGillemartin, MacGillmartin, Gillmorten, Gillmurton, Gilmor, Gilmote, Killmeter, Gillmarten, Gilmart, Kilmarter, MacAllmartin, MacAllmurrey, Macgilmarter, McAllmurrey, and MacGillemard.

Surnames that can be found derived from the Gillmartin origin include McTighe, O'Tighe, Tighe, MagTighe, MacElmarry, McElmarry, McElmurray, and McIlvar.

Gillmartin is a surname that has multiple origin spellings and variations depending on the country and region the ancestors of the name originated from. It is important those researching the Gillmartin surname to become familiar with these variants to ensure they have captured all pertinent records and documents in their genealogy research.

Famous people with the name Gillmartin

• Martin Gillmartin: Irish Gaelic footballer who won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship with Mayo in 1951 and is widely considered one of Mayo's all-time greats.
• Pinky Gillmartin: All-Ireland award-winning traditional Irish fiddle player from Co. Tipperary.
• Richard Gillmartin: stage, film and television actor best known for his roles in 'The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles', 'The Bill' and 'Cousin Bette'.
• Chris Gillmartin: Hollywood special effects artist who has worked on films such as 'Jurassic Park', 'Free Willy', 'Conan the Barbarian' and 'Earthquake'.
• Hannah Gillmartin: British skincare expert who is the founder of the luxury skincare brand 'Gillmartin' and a former supermodel.
• Noel Gillmartin: award-winning author and broadcaster from Co. Mayo who wrote the non-fiction book 'Mayo: A Journey Through Time'.
• Ruth Gillmartin: forensic pathologist and coroner widely regarded as one of the top experts in her field in the UK.
• Joe Gillmartin: Irish musician and producer who has worked with artists including Alison Krauss, The Fleadh Cowboys and Chris de Burgh.
• Simon Gillmartin: award-winning producer and engineer who has worked with artists such as Mary J. Blige, Elton John and The Black Eyed Peas.
• Tommy Gillmartin: former Irish Sinn Féin politician who served as a TD for Mayo East from 1981 to 1989.

Other surnames

Gillmartine