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
General Labourer 605
Dock Labourer 273
Living On Own Means 199
General Servant Domestic 194
Dress Maker 150
Cotton Weaver 150
Domestic Servant 147
Scholar 139
Coal Miner Hewer 137
Charwoman 134
Cook Domestic 116
Farmer 87
Cotton Spinner 75
Tailor 73
Laundress Wash 71
Bricklayer Labourer 67
Housemaid Domestic 66
Tailoress 66
Servant Domestic 63
Labourer General 61
Cotton Winder 59
Navvy 59
Coal Hewer 54
Hawker 49
School 48

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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