Show ContentsKilpatrick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Kilpatrick surname is derived from one of various place names in Scotland. These place names come from the Old Norse "kirkja" which became "kirk" and means "church." Several churches were dedicated to St. Patrick, and then the place names followed from the church names.

Early Origins of the Kilpatrick family

The surname Kilpatrick was first found in Dumfriesshire at Closeburn, a civil parish. The surname was derived from a chapel on a farm in the parish that was once dedicated to Saint Patrick. About 1 km east of Closeburn lies Closeburn Castle, a tower house that was the family seat of the Kirkpatrick family until 1783. The first record of the name is of a Sir Roger de Kirkpatrick (born c. 1280), 3rd cousin and associate of Robert the Bruce, 1st cousin of Sir William Wallace who attested a charter by one of the Bruces in the 14th century.

Early History of the Kilpatrick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kilpatrick research. Another 210 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1232, 1296, 1685, 1686, 1695, 1728, 1783 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kilpatrick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kilpatrick Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kilpatrick, Gilpatrick, Patrick, Kirkpatrick and others.

Early Notables of the Kilpatrick family

Notable amongst bearers of this family name during their early history was Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick, 1st Baronet (d. c. 1695) of Closeburn in the County of Dumfries, a Baronetage of Nova Scotia created for him on 26 March 1685; and...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kilpatrick Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kilpatrick Ranking

In the United States, the name Kilpatrick is the 2,396th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Kilpatrick family to Ireland

Some of the Kilpatrick family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 90 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Kilpatrick migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kilpatrick Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Kilpatrick, who landed in New England in 1718-1719 2
Kilpatrick Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mathew Kilpatrick, aged 16, who arrived in Maine in 1812 2
  • James Kilpatrick, aged 34, who arrived in South Carolina in 1812 2
  • James Kilpatrick, aged 29, who landed in Maryland in 1813 2
  • William Kilpatrick, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1828 2
  • Joseph Kilpatrick, aged 22, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1849 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Kilpatrick Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Alexander Kilpatrick, aged 34, who immigrated to America from Donegal, in 1904
  • Cecelia Kilpatrick, aged 28, who landed in America from Blantyre, Scotland, in 1908
  • Cissy Kilpatrick, aged 16, who landed in America from Musselburgh, Scotland, in 1909
  • DeWitt Kilpatrick, aged 7, who landed in America from Musselburgh, Scotland, in 1909
  • Daniel Kilpatrick, aged 6, who immigrated to the United States from Ardersier, Scotland, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Kilpatrick migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kilpatrick Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Kilpatrick Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Kilpatrick, who landed in Canada in 1821
  • James Kilpatrick, aged 21, a carpenter, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Leslie Gault" in 1833
  • James Kilpatrick, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Neptune" in 1834
  • Thomas Kilpatrick, aged 49, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Susan" in 1838
  • James Kilpatrick, aged 29, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Susan" in 1838
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Kilpatrick migration to Australia +

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

Kilpatrick Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Kilpatrick, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dunvegan Castle" on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • Mr. William Kilpatrick, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1844 5
  • Mr. William Kilpatrick, (b. 1840), aged 3, Irish settler travelling with convict Miss Susan McKenna, transported aboard the "East London" on 10th May 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
  • Mr. William Kilpatrick, (b. 1806), aged 44, English labourer, from London travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 25th January 1851 7
  • Mrs. Hannah Kilpatrick, (b. 1808), aged 42, English housekeeper, from London travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 25th January 1851 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Kilpatrick 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:

Kilpatrick Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Kilpatrick, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Bruce" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 12th September 1860 8
  • Adam Kilpatrick, aged 21, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Howrah" in 1874
  • Mr. James Kilpatrick, (b. 1856), aged 22, Irish farm labourer from Armagh departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878
  • John F. Kilpatrick, aged 28, a ploughman, who arrived in Canterbury aboard the ship "Rimutaka" in 1885
  • Margaret Kilpatrick, aged 26, who arrived in Canterbury aboard the ship "Rimutaka" in 1885
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Kilpatrick (post 1700) +

  • Ben Kilpatrick (1877-1912), American outlaw in the Old West, member of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch gang, he was killed by a hostage during a train robbery
  • Freeman Kilpatrick GM, American Staff Sergeant who was stationed at Sculthorpe in 1953 North Sea Floods, he was awarded the George Medal for his efforts in warning people
  • Erik Kilpatrick, American actor, best known for playing Curtis Jackson on the CBS television series The White Shadow, son of Lincoln Kilpatrick
  • Lincoln Kilpatrick (1932-2004), American film, television, and stage actor
  • Jimmy Kilpatrick (b. 1985), American professional AHL ice hockey player
  • Kenneth Dale "K.D." Kilpatrick Sr., (1928-2010), American funeral home owner and Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate (1972 to 1976)
  • Brigadier-General John Reed Kilpatrick (1889-1960), American Commanding General Newport News Port of Embarkation (1942-1945), member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame 9
  • Hugh Judson Kilpatrick (1836-1881), American soldier, officer in the Union army during the American Civil War achieving the rank of Brevet Major General, he was later made the United States Minister to Chile
  • Robert Donald "Patrick" Kilpatrick (b. 1949), American actor who has appeared in over 85 films and television shows
  • William H. Kilpatrick (1871-1965), American educator
  • ... (Another 24 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Kilpatrick +

  • Kilpatrick and Allied Families by Edward Floyd Kilpatrick.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dunvegan-castle
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/east-london
  7. The Argus News Paper 27th January 1852 Page 2 (Retrieved 26th April 2019). Retrieved from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4775844?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FA%2Ftitle%2F13%2F1851%2F01%2F27%2Fpage%2F505154%2Farticle%2F4775844
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) John Kilpatrick. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Kilpatrick/John_Reed/USA.html


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