This relatively rare surname is an Irish import from Scotland at the time of the Plantation of Ulster circa 1610 - 1660. Its origination is from the same root as the more popular "Kyle", both being "Anglicized" forms of the Gaelic "MacSuile" (son of the bright-eyed one), an original Ayrshire surname. The variant spelling forms include Cyle, Kiele, Kiell, Kielle and Kile, the latter being recorded as early as 1428, when the land charters reveal that a Margaret Kile was a property owner and landlord in Glasgow. In 1538, both John Kile and Thomas Kile are recorded as Burgesses of Irvine. However, the spelling as "Kille" would seem to have its origin in Ulster (see below). It may also be that the said William Kille was originally a "Kile", as on July 8th 1655, one William Kille was a witness at Derry Cathedral at the christening of a son, Thomas. To add to the mystery, on March 10th 1665, ten years later, one William Killes is also recorded as a christening witness to his son John. All these recordings may refer to the same William Kile, Kille or Killes! The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Kille, which was dated May 4th 1659, a christening witness at Derry Cathedral, Templemore, Ulster, during the reign of Richard Cromwell, known as "The Lord Protector", 1658 - 1660. 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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