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Kelly Name History

Kelly-coat-of-arms-large.jpgKelly Coat of Arms

In many cases, Kelly is an Anglicisation of the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, which means "descendant of Ceallach." The personal name Ceallach has been thought to mean "bright-headed," but the current understanding is that the name means "frequenting churches," derived from the Irish ceall. In other cases, the surname Kelly is an Anglicisation of the Irish Ó Cadhla, which means "descendant of Cadhla."

The surname can also be derived from several place names. For example, the surname can be derived from two places in Scotland: Kelly, near Arbroath, and Kellie, in Fife. The surname can also be derived from a place name in England, Kelly, in Devon. This place name is derived from the Cornish celli, meaning "wood" or "grove." Variant spellings of the Irish surname Kelly include O'Kelly, Kelley, O'Kelley, Kellie, and O'Killia.

The surname is one of the most prevalent surnames in Ireland. It is also very common in Galloway, and the Isle of Man.

Visit a Kelly Pub in Ireland

On your next trip to Ireland, you should make a point of visiting one of the charming Kelly pubs. Here are some we have found:

 

If you can't visit in person, our personalized pub gifts are the next best thing!

Notable people named Kelly

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O'Kelly

For Notable People Named Kelley, visit the Kelley Irish Coat of Arms page.

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