This is an interesting name of Scottish and Irish origin. In the instance of the Scottish name, it is locational from either of two places so called, one in Closeburn, Dumfreisshire, and the other in East and West Kilpatrick, Dumbarton. It is recorded in the Episcopal Register, Glasgow in 1468 that one Thomas de Kylpatrik, was Rector of Suthek, and in Bain's Scottish documents one Nigel Kilpatrick was a prisoner of war in Kenilworth Castle in 1302. The Irish name in Gaelic is MacGiolla Phadraig, meaning son, servant or devotees of St. Patrick. They were sometimes known as (Mac) Gilpatrick, (Mac) Kilpatrick, or McLlpatrick, but are generally known as Fitzpatrick, the only name with this prefix which is of native Irish origin, the others being Norman. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Stevene de Kilpatrick, which was dated 1296, Dumfries, during the reign of John Balliol of Scotland, 1292 - 1296. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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