Surname Gilroy - Meaning and Origin

Gilroy: What does the surname Gilroy mean?

The surname Gilroy is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Ruaidh," which translates to "son of the red-haired servant". The different parts of the name can be dissected as follows: "Mac" means son of, "Giolla" stands for servant or follower, and "Ruaidh" signifies red or red-haired. It is therefore a patronymic name referring to the ancestral line, specifically to an ancestor who was recognized as a redhead and presumably worked in a servitude capacity. The name Gilroy is common in Northern Ireland, especially in the province of Ulster. In the process of Anglicization, many such traditional Gaelic surnames underwent transformations and adaptations, so variants like Gilroy, Kilroy, and others can be found. Just like other surnames, Gilroy can offer some clues to the history and migration patterns of ancestors bearing the name.

Gilroy: Where does the name Gilroy come from?

The surname Gilroy originates from Ireland, more accurately from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Rua" which translates to "son of the red-haired youth." This Irish surname was first found in County Clare, located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster.

Today, the name is common in many English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, as well as in Ireland. In particular, it spread to these places due to the emigration from Ireland during the time of the Great Famine in the mid-19th century. In the United States, the name Gilroy is most common in the states of New York, Massachusetts, and California. Despite its wide distribution, Gilroy is not an incredibly common surname, according to census data. It still has strong associations with Irish cultural heritage. There are also several places named Gilroy, such as the city of Gilroy in California, USA, further spreading the use of the name.

Variations of the surname Gilroy

The name Gilroy is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Giolla Rua," meaning "son of the red-haired youth." Variations of the surname Gilroy can be found as MacGilroy, MacElroy, MacIlroy, MacKillroy, and MacGilleroi. Some more versions of this surname might contain prefix 'O' instead of 'Mac,' indicating descendants of, such as O'Gilroy or O'Gillroy.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the prefix of 'Mac' or 'Mc' can either be hyphenated, abbreviated or completely dropped, giving rise to names like Gilroy, Ilroy, Elroy, and Killroy.

The spelling of the surname can vary due to phonetic translations from Gaelic to English, which has led to various recorded forms of the name, such as Gillroy, Kilroy, Gilroye, Gileroy, and even Jillroy.

As a point to note, families often changed the spelling of surnames over time, and so surname spellings can differ significantly over generations. In some cases, Gilroy could be anglicized differently altogether to similar surnames such as Fitzroy or Leroy.

Overall, it's important to remember this list may not be exhaustive as names can be continually transformed over time and across regions.

Famous people with the name Gilroy

• Tony Gilroy: An American screenwriter and director, known for his work on the "Bourne" series.
• Dan Gilroy: An American screenwriter and film director, and Tony Gilroy's younger brother. He directed the film "Nightcrawler".
• Frank D. Gilroy: An American playwright, screenwriter, and film producer. He was Tony and Dan Gilroy's father.
• Rene Russo: Known as Rene Gilroy after she married Dan Gilroy in 1992, Russo is an American actress, producer, and model.
• Alec Gilroy: A fictional character from British television soap opera, "Coronation Street."
• Garry Shandling (aka Garry Emmanuel Gilroy): An iconic American stand-up comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer.
• Arturo Gilroy: A famous Mexican American hip hop artist and producer.
• Sam Gilroy: A professional Australian rules footballer.
• Elizabeth Gilroy: A Professor of Indigenous Health, at the University of Queensland.
• Georgia Gilroy: An American TV Producer known for her work on popular reality TV shows.
• Richard Gilroy: A well-known Australian politician.
• Marie Hermine Gilroy: An Australian cricketer.
• Alexander Gilroy: An Australian rugby league player.
• Jim Gilroy: An American professional baseball player.

Other surnames

GilrodGilroothGilrothGilrouthGilrowth