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Kilroy Family History

Kilroy Surname Meaning

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Ruaidh ‘son of Giolla Rua or Gilroy’ see McIlroy.

Compare Gilroy and also (Scottish) Roy 1 which may be used as an abbreviation in Ireland.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kilroy family from?

You can see how Kilroy families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kilroy family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kilroy families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 191 Kilroy families living in Lancashire. This was about 44% of all the recorded Kilroy's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Kilroy families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kilroy surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Kilroy ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Kilroy. 28% of Kilroy men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Kilroy women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kilroy were General Farm Worker (are and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Kilroy | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    28%
  • Bricklayer
    16%
  • Farm Labourer
    16%
  • General Farm Worker (are
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Cotton Weaver
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%

What Kilroy family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Kilroy. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kilroy census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kilroy

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Kilroy. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kilroy immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Kilroy. For the veterans among your Kilroy ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kilroy military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kilroy family history

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What is the average Kilroy lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Kilroy life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Kilroy in 1943 was 38, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kilroy

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kilroy ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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