Meaning and history
Gilroy is an Irish surname used occasionally as a masculine given name. It is an Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Rua, meaning “son of the red-haired servant” or “son of the devotee called Giolla Rua.” Different family spellings developed over time, and its first-name use generally reflects surname tradition. A notable bearer was American sculptor and engraver Gilroy Roberts, who designed the portrait of John F. Kennedy used on the United States half dollar.