Killian Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Killian last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Killian coat of arms for you.
Meaning and origin of the Killian last name
Meaning of the Killian last name: little church. Killian is an Irish surname from Ó Cillín, 'descendant of Cillín', a name usually linked with ceall, 'church'. The last name is found in Connacht and the Midlands. A curious detail: St Kilian, an Irish missionary, became the patron saint of Würzburg in Germany, so the name is honoured there too.
Arms associated with the Killian name
Heraldry associated with the Killian surname uses a few strong colours, and each coat of arms has its own blazon.
Get your full Killian family history
This is only a glimpse of the Killian story. The full Killian history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Killian coat of arms. Get the full Killian report.
Killian name FAQ
What does the Killian name mean?
Little church. Common variants include Killen, Kilian.
Where does the Killian surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Killian coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Killian coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).