Surname Kells - Meaning and Origin
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Kells: What does the surname Kells mean?
The last name Kells is of Scottish origin and is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Ceallaigh, literally meaning “descendant of Ceallach”. The Gaelic word Ceallach itself means “strife”. The Kells surname is found in areas around the Irish cities of Dublin and Cavan as well as to parts of Scotland.
Throughout history, there have been many notable people with the last name Kells such as John Kells Ingram, an Irish poet and political theorist; Eileen Kells, the first female judge in Northern Ireland; William Lecky Kells, the father of the founder of Kells-London Insurance Brokers; and Matt Kells, a firefighter who emerged as a hero at the scene of the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia in 2009.
The Kells surname is associated with deep-rooted family ties and communities. Family and community spirit are core values in many cultures and the Kells family exemplify this. As well as loyalty and strong sense of community pride, the Kells last name is associated with strength, determination, and courage.
Whether in times of joy or strife, the Kells have managed to rise above and come out unscathed. Today, they continue to uphold their strong sense of belonging and to act as pillars of their communities, meeting new challenges with strength and courage.
Order DNA origin analysisKells: Where does the name Kells come from?
The last name Kells is most commonly found in Northern Ireland today. It is believed to be of either Irish or Scottish origin and has been found in records going back as far as the 1600s. While the exact root of the name is not known, it is thought that it is derived from the Gaelic 'Ceallaigh', a name meaning 'warrior'. The Kells surname has been found in County Down since before that time, suggesting that its origins lie in the area. The Kells surname is also common in County Antrim, County Armagh and County Louth.
In recent years, the surname has spread beyond its traditional roots in Northern Ireland and is now found in other areas of the UK, Europe, Canada, the US, and even as far away as Australia. The last name Kells appears in the records of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, showing that at least some of its holders made the journey to America in the late-19th century.
Presently, there are a number of notable people who bear the name Kells, such as American rapper Paperboy Kells, professional wakeboarder Danny Kells, and British writer Richard Kells. Despite this, the Kells surname is still relatively rare, with the UK's Office of National Statistics estimating that in 2021, there were less than 600 UK-based individuals with the Kells surname registered on the electoral roll.
Variations of the surname Kells
The surname Kells is derived from the ancient Irish surname "O'Kelly", which is an anglicised version of the old Irish "O'Ceallaigh". It is an Irish patronymic surname meaning "descendant of Ceallach". Kells is the Irish Gaelic spelling, while its variants are Kelle, O'Kelle, O'Kelley, Kelleigh, Kell, Keal, Cell, Ceil, Keele, Keal, Cecal and Kellough.
In some cases, the name may originate from "O'Kealy", which is also derived from Ceallach. O'Kealy is an Irish Clan name which has a number of spelling variations, including O'Keeley, Keely, O'Keele, and O'Keiley. Many of these spellings are also seen in various parts of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
A great number of bearers of the surname Kells are from County Westmeath in Ireland and also from Manchester, England. In Australia, a prominent line of Kell families settled in Brisbane, which is now home to a large number of Kell family members.
Other related surnames are MacCall, Kellett, Kelso, Kelleher, O'Kelley, Kellyman, and Kelle. MacCall is a variant of the Irish surname MacCeallach, which has the same root as Kells and its many variants. Kelso is an English surname from the Kelso family in Scotland which shares the same origin as Kells. Kelleher is a variation of the Anglo-Norman name "Cygour", which was introduced to Ireland during the Norman invasion. O'Kelley is an Irish clan name of the same origin. Kellyman is an anglicised version of the Irish name O'Ceallaigh. Finally, Kelle is a variation of the Irish surname O'Ceallaigh which is often seen in modern times.
Famous people with the name Kells
- Van Kells: professional American American Football player, currently playing for the Los Angeles Chargers
- John Kells Ingram: 19th century Irish-born poet and literary critic
- William Kells: American artist and photographer
- Brad Kells: American television and radio host
- Aaron Kells: Irish Professional Footballer
- Chris Kells: Canadian Singer-Songwriter
- Thomas Kells: American politician and former United States Ambassador to Jordan
- Darcy Kells: Professional Australian Basketball player
- Nancy Kells: Canadian journalist and documentary filmmaker
- Kelly Kells: former Australian Football League player