Kilmer

German surname

"famous sacrifice; famous pledge; famous noble offspring"

Kilmer Origin and Meaning

The name Kilmer is a girl's name meaning "famous sacrifice; famous pledge; famous noble offspring".

The German surname Kilmer is derived from Gilmer, which itself originated from various German given names. These personal names include Gildemir and Gilmar, meaning "famous sacrifice", along with Gisel and Gisela, which derive from the German element gīsil, meaning "pledge", "hostage", or "noble offspring".

That meaning may seem odd, but in ancient and medieval Germanic culture, the younger children of nobles were handed off to be raised by foreign or nearby rulers — this was considered a peace pledge between the two courts.

Actors Bethany C. Meyers and Nico Tortorella named their daughter Kilmer Dove — Kilmer is Meyers' mother's maiden name.