Map of Scotland showing where the Kilgore arms are recorded
The Kilgore arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Scotland when the Kilgore arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Kilgore Family in Scotland
The surname Kilgore is rooted in the landscape of Scotland, where it likely evolved as a locational name derived from a place of worship. The prefix "kil" is common in Scottish Gaelic and refers to a church or a cell, while the second part of the name is thought to relate to the name of a local saint or a specific geographic feature. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family was well-established in the city of Edinburgh. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the Kilgore family were active participants in the urban life of the Scottish capital during a period of significant cultural and economic growth. As the family expanded, they carried this name from the historic streets of Edinburgh into wider regions, eventually contributing to the migration patterns that spread the name across the globe.
Kilgore Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cill Gille Odhar
Gaelic for church of the dun-colored servant or devotee.
This name
KilgoreDerived from a Scottish place name referring to a church dedicated to a specific follower.
also spelled
Kilgore
Kilgower
Kylgour
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Sasines, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
bordureA difference between branches of one family
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
