Parent’s name

Gilmore surname meaning

A Scottish and Irish surname, anglicized from Mac Gille Mhoire or Mac Giolla Mhuire, “son of the servant or devotee of Mary,” with an English place route also possible.

Confidence: Likely
US frequency: Rank 721 · 46,765 people
Common variants: Gilmore, Gilmour, MacGilmour, Gillmore

Confidence: Likely. The main story is well supported; some details of the deeper root are less certain.

The short story

Gilmore is chiefly a Scottish and Irish surname anglicized from Mac Gille Mhoire or Mac Giolla Mhuire, “son of the servant” or devotee of Mary. Gilmour and MacGilmour preserve related Gaelic forms, while Gillmore reflects English spelling. In Sligo, a separate Mac Giolla Mhir route, “son of the spirited lad,” is documented, and English families may derive Gilmore from Gillamoor in Yorkshire. The catalog uses parent’s name with likely confidence because the Gaelic descendant-name dominates, while the English place route and regional Gaelic alternatives remain important.

Also seen as: Gilmore, Gilmour, MacGilmour, Gillmore

Sources used

Ancestry surname meaning for Gilmore (Gaelic Mac Gille Mhoire and English Gillamoor routes)
Wikipedia 'Gilmore (surname)' (Scottish and Irish surname history)
Names2020_LastNames_RaceHispanic_Top1000.xlsx (2020 Census)