Gilmour Last Name: Meaning and Heraldic Roots

Whether you spell it Gilmour or Gilmore, the story begins in the same place. Its meaning, shared with Gilmore, is “Son of the devotee of Mary”. Gilmour is listed among the recognised spellings of Gilmore. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. You may also find the name written Gillmore.

The 2010 US Census counted 2,625 people named Gilmour, ranking it number 11,926 among American surnames. That is enough to place it in the top 25,000 American surnames.

A coat of arms belongs to a particular family line rather than to everyone named Gilmour, so the heraldry linked to Gilmore is a starting point, not an automatic right. Want more than a summary? See the Gilmour family name pack.