Gilmore Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Gilmore Family History

Gilmore Family History

The ancient origin of the name Gilmore was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Meaning 'devotee of Mary', Gilmore is a baptismal name. Variants include Gilmour, Gillmor, Gillmore and Gilmer. This name is often of Scottish descent spreading to the countries of Ireland, England, and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a Gillemor, son of Gilleconel, who possessed the lands of Fincurroks in the twelfth century, and a Gillemor filius Gilleconel who granted a half mark of silver to the Church of Saint Machute, in Lesmahagow, some time before 1144. In Ireland a branch of the family was seated in Ulster where they were of great importance. The earliest form of the name found there was Mac Giolla Mhuire which literally translates as 'son of the devotee of Mary', referring to the mother of Christ. The Gilmores of County Sligo are from the native Gaelic Mac Giolla Mhir sept.The Gilmore family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Gilmore descendants.