Killian Family in USA Genealogy

Surname Killian: Cillian or Killian, Language(s) Irish, Origin Region of origin Ireland, Meaning Possibly " Little Church" or "strife" Other names Variant(s) Ó Cillín, Cillian, Ceallach, Kilian, Killion, Killeen

Killian or Cillian, as a given name, is an Anglicized version of the Irish name Cillín. Killian is the more radical anglisation of the name as there is no 'K' in the Gaelic alphabet.

Killian, as a surname, is found in both Ireland and Germany. It was originally spelled Ó Cillín in Irish before being Anglicized into Killeen as well as Killian. Spelling variations for Killian include Kilian, Killion, and others.[1]

The name is said to derive from Saint Kilian, an Irish missionary to Germany in the 7th century, who, according to the Acta Sanctorum, was born in Mullagh, County Cavan, Ireland C.640. He departed for his mission to the continent with 12 Apostles from Kilmacologue in the parish of Tuosist, County Kerry, Ireland. In 689 he was martyred in Würzburg, Franconia, Germany and subsequently became the city's patron saint.

The most likely meaning of the name is "little church", a reference to someone prayerful or spiritual, cill meaning "church" in Gaelic while the suffix "-ín" is used affectionately to indicate a 'pet' or diminutive status.[2] The Rev. Patrick Woulfe wrote that Cillian is the 'pet' diminutive of Ceallach which means "war" or "strife".[3]
(Info. from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

son of Andreas Kilian (Sr.),

a cooper from Steinbach an der Holzecke, Germany, and his wife Dorothea Knaus, born 1702 and Baptist On Friday, 1 December 1702 in Steinbach, Germany. Came to America 1732 on ship Adventure, arriving in PA. Later moved to North Carolina ca. 1747 living is what was then Lincoln County. Died ca. 1788. Assumed buried in Old Saint Paul's Church Cemetery, Newton, North Carolina.

Children of are:

For more information on Andreas and his children go to the website.

My Andreas Killian Data Base (has 21,651 individuals and 7466 marriages as of 1/23/2024). It includes the Forefathers of Andreas Killian (b:1702) back to Sebastian Kilian (b:bef 1570). All information on the Forefathers of Andreas Killian (b:1702) comes from William McCreight. View his website at

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