Kirkpatrick is a Scottish and Northern Irish surname deriving from several places in Dumfriesshire. The name goes back to Old English and Old Norse meaning "church of Saint Patrick".
My husband is Robert (Roy)Kirkpatrick, born in 1950. He is descended from Robert Kirkpatricks, we have birth certificates going back several generations, all Robert, and all from the Dumfries area.My husband's grandfather emigrated to South Africa about 100 years ago. My sons all have first name Robert. I have come to believe that there are different 'lines' within the surname. Others are William, for example.