Kilpatrick is an Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Phádraig, meaning "son of the servant of Saint Pádraig (Patrick)". This traditional Gaelic naming pattern indicates a familial or occupational devotion to Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The name originated in Ireland, particularly in counties like Kilkenny and Tipperary, where the Mac Giolla Phádraig sept was historically prominent. Over time, the surname was anglicized to Kilpatrick, MacIlpatrick, or Fitzpatrick, as English scribes converted Gaelic sounds to more familiar forms. This transformation reflects the broader history of Irish surname anglicization during the 17th and 18th centuries under English rule. Variants and Related Names The root name Pádraig (Irish for Patrick) is central to the name's meaning. Other related variants include Mac Giolla Phádraig (the original Gaelic form) and its anglicized versions Kilpatrick and Fitzpatrick (from the Norman fils meaning "son of", used similarly). Numerous other names also begin with Giolla Phádraig, like McIlpatrick in Scotland, where the name crossed over in the 17th century, especially during the Ulster Plantations. Notable Bearers In the United States, Kilpatrick ranked as the 2565th most common surname according to the 2010 Census, primarily borne by individuals of White descent. Notable bearers include American football players: Todd Kilpatrick, a tackle known for his brief NFL career, and Jourdan Kilpatrick, a defensive back in the CFL. In politics, the name appears with Congressman W. I. Kilpatrick from Bellevue, Canada; Philip Kilpatrick, Utah politician; and Nancy Kassebaum Baker (née Kilpatrick), former U.S. Senator from Kansas. In military annals, Harriet Tubman sometimes used the pseudonym "Araminta Kilpatrick" during the Civil War. Place Names and Cultural Markers Kilpatrick also survives as a place name. Kilpatrick is a small settlement on the Isle of Arran, Scotland. The name has been used for places like Old Kilpatrick, associated with a supposed birthplace of Saint Patrick in Dumbartonshire, Scotland. In Northern Ireland, New Kilpatrick gave its name to a man (as "Newkildpatrick") and appears in Scottish origins as a parish in Kilkenny, Ireland. Legacy and Distribution Today, Kilpatrick is most common in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. As a result of the apellate process of the earlier era, the second most common form after Kilpatrick in Latin documentation for common memorials was de Kilpatrick (lesser so) rising to prominence primarily in America but found broadly through known foreign treaties of British, Scottish and Irish naming trends during the Mac era. Meaning: "Son of the servant of Saint Patrick" Origin: Irish Gaelic Type: Surname Usage regions: Ireland, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia