Killen
An Irish surname usually linked to Gaelic personal names like Cillín or related forms, later appearing as an anglicized family name.
The #7,968 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 74,379 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is generally treated as an anglicized form connected with Gaelic personal-name forms such as Cillín, and in Irish materials it is grouped with names like Gillen and Killian. The underlying Gaelic element may relate to a diminutive or pet form of a given name, rather than to the English verb "kill". The historical sources do not give one single, completely certain derivation, so the name is best explained as an Irish surname from a Gaelic personal-name tradition.
History
The surname appears in Irish genealogical and county distributions in the historical record, and Matheson groups Killen with Gillen and Killian. It is especially associated with Ireland, with records noted in several counties. The form likely developed through English spelling of Irish names that varied by region and family.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Despite the spelling, this surname is not usually connected with the English word "kill"; it is an Irish family name with a Gaelic background.
From the historical record
“Killion. 24. 329. KILLEN. [Gillen]. Killian. KILLOPS. Kellops. Killips. 1034”
— Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland