Kelly Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Kelly Name Meaning: Originally of Gaelic derivation, taken from the surname 'ceallach', meaning 'church'. Similarly the Irish 'O'Ceallaigh' means 'descendant of war'. Also may have originated from the Scottish 'coille' meaning 'grove'.

A popular Irish surname taken from the Gaelic name 'O'Ceallaigh' which was eventually shortened to 'O'Kelly'. In English/Scottish this surname derives from @celli' and 'coille' meaning grove and may have been given to someone who worked in or lived near a grove or wood.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Kelly Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Kelly family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 1,167
Labourer 547
House Servant 263
Agricultural Labourer 253
Servant 175
At Home 159
Dress Maker 127
Tailor 113
Farm Labourer 87
Dock Labourer 79
General Servant 73
Hawker 67
House Keeper 66
Shoe Maker 65
Laundress 62
Weaver 54
Coal Miner 43
Charwoman 42
Annuitant 36
Errand Boy 33
Mariner 33
Lodging House Keeper 31
Bricklayer Labourer 31
Mason 30
Joiner 29

Kelly Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Kelly 100% 154,525
2 Kelley 83% 25,023
3 Keeley 67% 8,773
4 Killey 67% 3,726
5 Killy 80% 3,601
6 Keely 80% 2,691
7 Keley 80% 1,505
8 Kellie 67% 654
9 Kely 80% 345
10 Kally 80% 288
11 Keilly 83% 216
12 Kalley 67% 141
13 Okelly 83% 113

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The surname Kelly is the most popular version of all its varients

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