Show ContentsGilgour Surname History

The Pictish clans of ancient Scotland were the ancestors of first people to use the name Gilgour. The name was found in Kilgour, which is located near Falkland in the county of Fife. "The ancient name of a parish in Fifeshire, Scotland, so called from kill, a church, and gour, a hill—the church on the hill, or surrounded by hills." 1

Early Origins of the Gilgour family

The surname Gilgour was first found in Fife, at Kilgour where it is "an old Scottish family, who probably derived their name from a place so called in the parish of Falkland, co. Fife. " 2 "The surname is found all over Fife and is also common in Aberdeenshire. It is also found in North Australia, and has given name to a river there." 3

Early History of the Gilgour family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gilgour research. Another 192 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1006, 1528, 1540, 1550, 1551, 1555, 1563, 1566, 1567, 1572, 1600, 1607, 1644 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Gilgour History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gilgour Spelling Variations

In the Middle ages, spelling and translation were not yet regulated by any general rules. spelling variations in names were common even among members of one family unit. Gilgour has appeared Kilgour, Kilgore and others.

Early Notables of the Gilgour family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Sir Thomas Kilgour, "who appears in 1528 as chaplain of St, Thomas in the palace of Falkland is probably the same "Sir" Thomas Kilgoure to whom several entries of...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gilgour Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gilgour family

Faced by this persecution and the generally unstable political climate of those days, many Scots chose to leave their homeland for Ireland, Australia, and North America in search of greater opportunity and freedom. The colonies across the Atlantic were the most popular choice, but a passage there was neither cheap nor easily suffered. Passengers arrived sick and poor, but those who made it intact often found land and more tolerant societies in which to live. These brave settlers formed the backbone of the burgeoning nations of Canada and the United States. It is only this century that the ancestors of these families have begun to recover their collective identity through the patriotic highland games and Clan societies that have sprung up throughout North America. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Gilgour: Francis Kilgore settled in Virginia in 1761; Joseph and Martha Kilgour settled with their four children settled in Barstable Massachusetts in 1822; George Kilgour arrived in San Francisco in 1850..



  1. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)


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