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

Kilty, 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 Kilty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kilty in America

Kilty is the 51176th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kilty surname appeared 407 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kilty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kilty 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 Kilty

The surname Kilty has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "cillidh," which means "a small chapel or cell." This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with someone who lived near a small chapel or religious establishment.

In the early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Kiltie, Kiltye, and Kiltee, reflecting the phonetic variations common in those times. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1539, where a person named John Kiltye is mentioned.

The name Kilty has been linked to several historical figures throughout the centuries. One notable bearer was Sir William Kilty (1722-1805), a Scottish-born lawyer and jurist who served as the Chief Justice of the District Court of Maryland from 1790 to 1805. He played a significant role in the early legal system of the United States.

Another prominent individual with the surname Kilty was John Kilty (1758-1819), an American lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the District Court of the District of Columbia from 1801 to 1819. He was also a member of the Maryland House of Delegates and played a crucial role in the legal affairs of the newly formed United States.

In the 18th century, the name Kilty was associated with the Kilty family, who were prominent landowners in the Scottish Highlands. One member of this family, Alexander Kilty (1720-1789), was a notable figure in the Jacobite Risings, supporting the cause of restoring the Stuart monarchy to the British throne.

The name Kilty has also been linked to several place names in Scotland, such as Kilty Glen and Kilty Burn, both located in the Scottish Highlands. These place names likely derived from the same Gaelic root as the surname, reflecting the connection between the name and the landscape.

Another noteworthy bearer of the surname was John Kilty (1735-1813), an Irish-born American soldier and statesman who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War. He played a significant role in the drafting of the Articles of Confederation and was a respected figure in the early years of the United States.

While the surname Kilty is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history and has been associated with notable individuals in various fields, particularly law and politics, throughout the centuries. Its origins can be traced back to Scotland, where it initially emerged as a name associated with religious establishments and later became connected to prominent families and landowners in the Highlands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kilty

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

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

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

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