Gilmour name origin

Some possible derivations

1. Scottish and Irish (Ulster): reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Gille Mhoire (Scots), Mac Giolla Mhuire (Irish), patronymics from personal names meaning ‘servant of (the Virgin) Mary’.
2. Irish: in Armagh, reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Mhura ‘servant of St. Mura (of Fahan, Donegal)’ or, in Sligo, of Mac Giolla Mhir ‘son of the spirited lad’.

Motto: ‘Nil penna usus’ – i.e. ‘Not the quill but its use’

Gillemore, Gaelic, the henchman or follower of the chief, one who carried the chief’s broadsword, from gille, a servant, and mor, large, great.

Where do I start?

This is the question that I have posed myself recently and has been the reason why I have struggled to get enthused about family history work. 

The Gilmour side of things is quite complicated in the last three generations.   So the first place to start is with existing relatives.  That is easy said then done.  Having no contact with my natural father, by default means that my contact with the Gilmour side of the family is somewhat limited. 

So if like me, your options for contacting living relatives is limited then ask them anyway you may be surprised what you find out.  So I asked my mum and she mentioned that my Aunt and Uncle knew a little about the family tree so they could be a pretty good starting point.   

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