An Irish surname of Kelly comes from the ancient Irish name O’Ceallaigh which means a descendant of war. Adding the Gaelic prefix "O" denotes the male descendant of. The term ‘Ceallach’ means strife or contention. In England and Scotland this name signifies a brave warrior and also bright headed.

Within Ireland, the Kelly surname is the second most common surname. The common variants for the Irish spelling include Kelley and Kellie.

In England the Lancashire and Yorkshire counties along with the Isle of Man have higher populations with the Kelly surname. Scotland’s county of Lanarkshire have many with the Kelly name.

Within the United States the states of New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania have the greatest number of Kelly families.

Other methods to spell Kelly include Keely, Kelley, Kellie, McCullough, Kelleigh, Cheallaigh, Kelli, Kellog, Kellye, Kellee, O’Kelly and O’Kelley.


Famous: Des Kelly (English journalist), Emmett Kelly (circus performer), Gene Kelly (actor and dancer), Grace Kelly (actress and Princess of Monaco), James Patrick Kelly (science fiction writer), John Melville Kelly (artist), King Kelly (19th century baseball player), Luke Kelly (Irish singer), Paul Kelly (Australian singer) and Scott J. Kelly (U. S. astronaut).