Surname Kelsoe - Meaning and Origin

Kelsoe: What does the surname Kelsoe mean?

The last name Kelsoe is an English or Scottish occupational surname, originally referring to someone who manufactured sieves or colanders. The meaning of the name is derived from the Middle English "kelse" meaning "a sieve", which comes from the Old English "ceols", also meaning sieve.

The name Kelsoe began to be used as a surname in some parts of England and Scotland by around the fourteenth century. It is believed that people who bought and sold cutlery, such as sieves and knives, were the first to take the last name. The name could then have been derived from the stuff they made and sold. Over time, the name Kelsoe was adopted as a family name by various families, and variants such as Kelson and Kelsaw appear in some records.

Kelsoe is also the name of two towns in Scotland and two towns in England, and is the namesake to numerous other locations throughout Britain. Kelsoe is not a common name, but it is known throughout much of the English-speaking world, particularly Scandinavia.

The Kelsoe family can be proud of their history and heritage as a unique surname. The name honors the hardworking individuals who created something from nothing and likely faced the hardships of their times. And now, the name lives on many centuries later.

Kelsoe: Where does the name Kelsoe come from?

The last name Kelsoe is most common in the United States today. According to the US Census Bureau, Kelsoe ranks as the 9,763rd most common surname in the country. This places the name among the top two percent of the nearly 150,000 reported surnames in the country, making it relatively uncommon.

The states of Virginia and North Carolina are home to the greatest concentrations of Kelsoe individuals, with roughly a quarter of the US population with that name living in these two states alone. The Washington D.C. metropolitan area, as well as other parts of the Mid-Atlantic, is also home to several individuals with this last name.

Other regions with notable concentrations of Kelsoe individuals include Texas, with more than a dozen families living in that state, as well as Arizona, California, Michigan, and even New Jersey.

The Kelsoe name appears to have originated in the United States during the colonial period, with the earliest known Kelsoe family traceable to the mid-1700s in what is now West Virginia. There is also reference to a ‘John Kelsey’ as having arrived in the Jamestown area in 1616, although the name could be an early spelling variation of Kelsoe.

Today, the Kelsoe surname remains quite rare in comparison to many other surnames in the United States, although its history and heritage are a reminder of the important role played by this small but influential group of ancestors.

Variations of the surname Kelsoe

The surname Kelsoe, which is derived from the Scottish place named Kelso, can take many forms. It can be spelled Kelsoe, Kellsoe, Kelsow, Kelso, Kelsow and Kellso. The spelling variations of Kelsoe are found in records dating back to the 16th century, when it was used as a surname in Scotland. Spelling variations of the surname could have been influenced by a variety of factors, such as language, education, and regional or cultural differences.

Kelsoe is also used as a first or middle name. This may have derived from an ancestor or relative who lived in or near the town of Kelso, Scotland.

Variants of the Kelso surname include Kelsawe, Kelsaw, Kelsowe, and Kelsou. The variants were likely influenced by dialects and languages associated with the region of Kelso.

Other surnames having the same root with Kelsoe include Kelsey, Kelsoy, Kelsay, and Kelsay. Numerous other forms of this surname can be found, with each having its own history and origin.

The surname Kelsoe can also be found in records from England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France, and other places around the world. Sometime in the course of research, a person may find a variant spelling of the surname that appears to be from another location, such as Kelshoff.

Ultimately, Kelsoe is a surname with various spellings, variants, and alternative forms. The variations are most likely a result of language, ethnicity, education, and cultural influences.

Famous people with the name Kelsoe

• Carla Kelsoe: American actress, producer, writer, photographer, and artist, best known for appearing in films such as The Internship, The Rainmaker, and Growing Up Smith.
• Chris Kelsoe: American musician, guitarist and composer known for his work on albums by Rolling Stones, Matchbox 20, Fun., among others.
• Ieva Kelsoe: Latvian actress, known for her roles in feature films, television series, and international productions such as The Aviator, Crossroads, and 24th Day.
• James Kelsoe: Canadian film and television industry executive, renowned for his work as a production manager on shows such as The Simpsons, The X-Files, and Andromeda.
• Jodie Kelsoe: American television director, who has directed episodes of television series and films such as From Here to There, The Young and the Restless, and Las Vegas.
• John Kelsoe: American actor with a prominent career in feature films, television series, and television movies such as Phantasm, Saturday Night Live, and The Fugitive.
• Michael Kelsoe: American voice actor and singer, who has been featured in various radio, television, film, and video game productions such as Mass Effect 3, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and L.A. Noire.
• Robert Kelsoe: American film and television producer, best known for his work on Courage Under Fire, Heartbreakers, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.
• Stephen Kelsoe: Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter, notable for writing and directing the films Flight of the Living Dead and Days of Summer.
• Thomas Kelsoe: American academic, scientist, and professor of neuroscience, specializing in cognitive development and developmental psychology, based in Philadelphia.

Other surnames

KelsoKelsonKelsow