Kell Family History

German: from Middle High German and Middle Low German kelle ‘trowel’ hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker or user of such tools. German: habitational name from any of the places especially in Rhineland named Kell from Middle Low German kel (a field name denoting swampy land) or from kelle ‘steep path ravine’ (see Kelle).

English (northern): from the Old Norse personal name Kel Kæl shortened from Áskell (from Ásketill) Ulkel (from Ulfkil) or similar rather than from the single-element name Ketill (see Kettle) or its descendants the shortening of which in Scandinavia occurs later.

English (northern): variant of Keel or perhaps sometimes Keld a habitational or topographic name from Middle English keld ‘spring’ (Old Norse kelda) or from any of several places called with this word such as Keld in Westmorland North Yorkshire and Yorkshire.

Irish (Antrim and Leitrim): variant of O'Kell which may itself be a variant of O'Kelly.