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KELLY

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There are approximately 117,696 people named Kelly in the UK. That makes it the 55th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 1,863 are named Kelly.

Region of origin

British Isles

Country of origin

Ireland

Language of origin

Gaelic

Religion of origin

Christian

Classification

Celtic

Related and similar surnames

Caley
Kelley
Kalley
Kaley
Kailey
Kahley
Kallie
Kall
Kalie
Ckelly
Cally
Caely
Cailly
Caylly
Callye
Caeley
Ckely
Kally
Kaelly
Kailly
Kaehly
Kaylly
Kaely
Kaly
Kaeley
Kaaly
Kallya
Kayly
Kaily

The Kelly surname in historical dictionaries

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)

(origin: Gaelic and Welsh.) A grove, generally of hazel. Kill or Cille, in the Gaelic and Celtic, denotes a church.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

British Surnames