Gilmour

Gilmour is a variant of the Irish and Scottish surname Gilmore. The name originates from the Gaelic personal names MacGilleMhoire (Scottish Gaelic) or Mac Giolla Mhuire (Irish Gaelic), meaning "son of the servant of Moire (the Virgin Mary)."

Etymology and Origins

The surname Gilmour belongs to a wider class of Gaelic surnames formed by devotion to a saint or religious figure. The first element, gille (Scottish Gaelic) or giolla (Irish), means "servant" or "lad," while the second element refers to the Virgin Mary: Moire in Scottish Gaelic or Muire in Irish. The name thus essentially meant "servant of Mary."

Geographic Distribution

While primarily associated with Scotland and Ireland, the name has spread through emigration, particularly to the United States. In the U.S., an unincorporated community in Greene and Sullivan Counties, Indiana, bears the name Gilmour.

Notable Bearers

The most famous bearer is David Gilmour (born 1946), the English guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the rock band Pink Floyd. Others include Toronto politician Doug Gilmour (born 1963), a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee known for his tenacious play. In science, John Gilmour (1906–1986) was a British botanist and curator at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

• Meaning: Servant of the Virgin Mary
• Origin: Scottish, Irish
• Variant of: Gilmore
• Usage: Surname