Kilgour History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The Kilgour family name was first used by descendants of the Pictish people of ancient Scotland. It is a name for someone who lived 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 Kilgour family

The surname Kilgour 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 Kilgour family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kilgour 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 Kilgour History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kilgour Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages did not have access to a set of spelling rules. They spelled according to sound, the result was a great number of spelling variations. In various documents, Kilgour has been spelled Kilgour, Kilgore and others.

Early Notables of the Kilgour 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 payments of ten bolls of bear occur i...

Kilgour migration to the United States +

The cruelties suffered under the new government forced many to leave their ancient homeland for the freedom of the North American colonies. Those who arrived safely found land, freedom, and opportunity for the taking. These hardy settlers gave their strength and perseverance to the young nations that would become the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Kilgour:

Kilgour Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph and Martha Kilgour settled with their four children settled in Barstable Massachusetts in 1822
Robert Kilgour, who arrived in New York, NY in 1833 4
George Kilgour, who arrived in San Francisco in 1850

Kilgour migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Kilgour Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Seth Kilgour, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Bute" in 1839 5
William Kilgour, aged 39, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Oregon" 6
Christina Kilgour, aged 24, a cook, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "John Bunyan" 7
Wilhelmina S. Kilgour, aged 28, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Melbourne"

Kilgour migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Kilgour Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Kilgour, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
John Kilgour, aged 36, a plasterer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1841
Margaret Kilgour, aged 38, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1841
William Kilgour, aged 4, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1841
Alexander Kilgour, aged 45, a cooper, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Kilgour (post 1700) +

Kirk Kilgour (1947-2002), American silver medalist volleyball player at the 1971 Pan American Games
Frederick Gridley "Fred" Kilgour (1914-2006), American librarian and educator, founder known founding director of OCLC (Online Computer Library Center)
Darris Kilgour, American head coach and general manager of the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League, inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame (2007)
Robert Kilgour (1714-1790), Scottish clergyman who served in the Scottish Episcopal Church as Bishop of Aberdeen from 1768 to 1786
Robert "Rab" Kilgour (b. 1956), Scottish former footballer who played for Meadowbank Thistle, Whitehill Welfare, Hibernian and St Johnstone (1974-1985)
David Kilgour MNZM (d. 2022), New Zealand musician from Dunedin, co-founder with his brother Hamish of The Clean, a popular band in New Zealand
David Kilgour PC (1941-2022), Canadian politician, Member of the Canadian Parliament for Edmonton-Mill Woods-Beaumont (2004-2006)
Margaret "Maggie" Kilgour FRSC (b. 1957), Canadian Molson professor of English Language and Literature at McGill University, born in Toronto
Mary Stewart Kilgour (1851-1955), Tasmania suffragist, educationalist, writer and campaigner for women's rights
Rear Admiral Niall Stuart Roderick Kilgour CB (b. 1950), British former Royal Navy officer who served as Commander Operations and Rear Admiral, Submarines
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY BUTE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839LadyBute.gif
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The barque OREGON, 521 tons - 1851 voyage to South Australia. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Oregon.htm
South Australian Register Wednesday 24th May 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) John Bunyan 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/johnbunyan1854.shtml