Find out how popular the last name Gilmore is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gilmore.

Gilmore, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Gilmore surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gilmore in America

Gilmore is the 714th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gilmore surname appeared 48,719 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 17 people would have the surname Gilmore.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gilmore to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Gilmore

The surname Gilmore has its origins in Scotland, first appearing in written records in the 12th century. It is believed to derive from the Gaelic words "gill" meaning a small stream or ravine, and "mor" meaning large or great, thus suggesting the name may have referred to someone living near a significant stream or valley.

Early references to variations of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. Entries such as Gillemor and Gilmor appear in these records, indicating the name's Scottish roots.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Gilmores were a prominent family in Galloway, with their lands centered around the parish of Mochrum in Wigtownshire. They were allies of the powerful Black Douglases and fought alongside them in many conflicts against the English.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name was Sir John Gilmour, who was knighted by King Robert the Bruce in the early 14th century for his bravery in the Wars of Scottish Independence. Another notable figure was William Gilmore, who served as Provost of Edinburgh in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Gilmores were among the Scottish families who migrated to Ulster, Ireland, during the Plantation of Ulster. They settled in County Down and County Antrim, and their descendants would later play a significant role in the American Revolutionary War.

One such descendant was Andrew Gilmore (1737-1792), an Irish-born American soldier and politician who served as a Brigadier General in the Continental Army and later represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir Samuel Gilmore (1887-1966), an Irish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland from 1944 to 1953.

In the literary world, Mary Gilmore (1865-1962) was a celebrated Australian poet and author, known for her works depicting the lives of the country's working class and advocating for social reform.

The name Gilmore has also been associated with several place names, such as Gilmorehill in Glasgow, Scotland, and the town of Gilmore City in Iowa, United States, which was named after a local landowner.

Overall, the surname Gilmore has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with branches extending to Ireland, North America, and beyond, reflecting the migrations and achievements of those who bore this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gilmore

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gilmore.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gilmore was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Gilmore has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Gilmore was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gilmore, please contact us.

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