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Kellay Family History

Kellay 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: Kallay, Kelly, Kellam, Kellas, Kellar, Kelley, Kelsay, Keller, Kelman

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kellay family from?

You can see how Kellay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kellay family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kellay families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there was 1 Kellay family living in Staffordshire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Kellay's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire and 1 other county had the highest population of Kellay families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kellay surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Kellay ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Operator were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kellay. 16% of Kellay men worked as a Farmer and 13% of Kellay women worked as an Operator. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kellay were Truck Driver and Nurse.

View Census Data for Kellay | 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
    16%
  • Laborer
    16%
  • Salesman
    12%
  • Truck Driver
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Operator
    13%
  • Teacher
    10%
  • Stenographer
    8%
  • Nurse
    8%

What Kellay family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Kellay

Passenger Lists

There are 131 immigration records available for the last name Kellay. 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 Kellay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 121 military records available for the last name Kellay. For the veterans among your Kellay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kellay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kellay family history

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What is the average Kellay lifespan?

Between 1967 and 1998, in the United States, Kellay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1981, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Kellay in 1967 was 64, and 74 in 1998.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kellay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kellay 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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