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

Kilroy, 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 Kilroy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kilroy in America

Kilroy is the 12953rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kilroy surname appeared 2,371 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kilroy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kilroy 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 Kilroy

The surname Kilroy is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the province of Munster. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic words "cill" meaning church and "ruaidh" meaning red or ruddy. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a red or ruddy-colored church.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Kilroy can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in various Irish annals and manuscripts. It was often spelled as "Ó Cillruaidh" or "Ó Cillruaidhe," which translates to "descendant of Cillruaidh."

In the 14th century, the name Kilroy was mentioned in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. This reference was in connection with a prominent family from County Cork, known as the Kilroy clan.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Kilroy was John Kilroy, born around 1520 in County Tipperary. He was a notable landowner and chieftain of his clan during the 16th century.

Another historical figure bearing the name was Donogh Kilroy, who lived in County Limerick during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a prominent member of the Irish gentry and played a role in the Desmond Rebellions against English rule.

In the 18th century, a notable Kilroy was James Kilroy, born in 1745 in County Cork. He was a renowned scholar and poet who wrote extensively in the Irish language.

During the 19th century, the name Kilroy gained recognition through the accomplishments of Michael Kilroy, born in 1818 in County Tipperary. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the local community.

Another notable figure from the 19th century was Patrick Kilroy, born in 1832 in County Clare. He was a prominent politician and served as a member of the British Parliament, representing Irish constituencies.

While the name Kilroy has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to Irish immigration. Over the centuries, various branches of the Kilroy family have established themselves in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kilroy

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

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 Kilroy 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 Kilroy 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 Kilroy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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