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Kellys Family History

Kellys 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: Kelly, Kellis, Kellas, Kells, Keller, Mellis, Kell, Kellow, Wells

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kellys family from?

You can see how Kellys families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kellys family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Kellys families were found in and Scotland in 1861. In 1891 there was 1 Kellys family living in Derbyshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Kellys's in United Kingdom. Derbyshire had the highest population of Kellys families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kellys 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 Kellys ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Refrigrator Assembley was the top reported job for people in the USA named Kellys. 100% of Kellys men worked as a Refrigrator Assembley.

View Census Data for Kellys | 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

  • Refrigrator Assembley
    100%

What Kellys family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 282 census records available for the last name Kellys. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kellys census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kellys

Passenger Lists

There are 123 immigration records available for the last name Kellys. 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 Kellys immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 20 military records available for the last name Kellys. For the veterans among your Kellys ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kellys military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kellys family history

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What is the average Kellys lifespan?

Average Kellys life expectancy in 2002 was 74 years. This was lower than the general public life expectancy which was 74.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kellys

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kellys 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kellys family tree

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