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Kelles Family History

Kelles Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Keller, Kellis, Belles, Delles, Kellas, Telles, Nelles, Kells, Gelles

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kelles family from?

You can see how Kelles families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kelles family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kelles families were found in USA in 1920. In 1851 there were 9 Kelles families living in Aberdeenshire. This was about 82% of all the recorded Kelles's in Scotland. Aberdeenshire had the highest population of Kelles families in 1851.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kelles surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1851
  • 1861
  • 1871
  • 1881
  • 1901
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What did your Kelles ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kelles. 19% of Kelles men worked as a Farmer and 15% of Kelles women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kelles were Salesman and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Kelles | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    19%
  • Laborer
    13%
  • Clerk
    8%
  • Salesman
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    15%
  • Clerk
    13%
  • Housework
    11%
  • Housekeeper
    9%

What Kelles family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Kelles. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kelles census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kelles

Passenger Lists

There are 193 immigration records available for the last name Kelles. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kelles immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 138 military records available for the last name Kelles. For the veterans among your Kelles ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kelles military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kelles family history

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What is the average Kelles lifespan?

Between 1959 and 1989, in the United States, Kelles life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1977, and highest in 1980. The average life expectancy for Kelles in 1959 was 72, and 79 in 1989.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kelles

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kelles ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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