NameCensus.

UK surname

Keleher

Irish surname transferred from the Gaelic personal name Ó Céileachair meaning "descendant of Céileachair".

In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Keleher surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, down from #25,575 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre, Calderdale and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keleher is 128 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 105.3%.

1881 census count

57

Ranked #25,575

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

2002

128 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keleher had 57 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,575 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 58 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Keleher surname distribution map

The map shows where the Keleher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Keleher surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keleher over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 31 #27,734
1861 historical 17 #31,714
1881 historical 57 #25,575
1891 historical 58 #29,439
1901 historical 54 #28,178
1911 historical 54 #27,423
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 119 #24,918
1999 modern 123 #24,643
2000 modern 115 #25,591
2001 modern 119 #24,733
2002 modern 128 #24,150
2003 modern 120 #24,909
2004 modern 114 #25,870
2005 modern 110 #26,430
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 118 #25,913
2008 modern 114 #26,796
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 119 #27,250
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 119 #27,100
2013 modern 122 #27,122
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Kelehers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre, Calderdale, Bradford and Ashford. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre 001 Wyre
2 Calderdale 026 Calderdale
3 Bradford 021 Bradford
4 Bradford 017 Bradford
5 Ashford 005 Ashford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keleher

These lists show first names that appear often with the Keleher surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keleher

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Keleher, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Keleher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Keleher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Keleher is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Keleher is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Keleher falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Keleher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Keleher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Keleher

The surname Keleher originated in Ireland, with its roots tracing back to the ancient Gaelic clan of O'Ceallachair. This name is derived from the Irish words "ceall" meaning "church" and "achaire" meaning "dweller." Thus, the name Keleher likely referred to someone who lived near a church or monastery.

The earliest known records of the Keleher surname can be found in County Kerry, Ireland, where the O'Ceallachair clan was based. The name appeared in various forms, including O'Keleher, O'Ceallachair, and Keleher, in medieval Irish annals and manuscripts.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Keleher surname was Donal O'Ceallachair, a prominent member of the O'Ceallachair clan, who lived in the 13th century. Another notable figure was Tadhg O'Ceallachair, a Irish poet and scholar who lived in the 15th century.

As the name spread beyond County Kerry, it evolved into different spellings, such as Keleher, Kelleher, and Kelliher. These variations were influenced by the local dialects and anglicization of Irish names in different regions of Ireland.

In the 17th century, during the Plantation of Ulster, many Irish families, including the Kelehers, were displaced from their ancestral lands. Some Kelehers emigrated to other parts of Europe and the Americas, carrying their surname with them.

One notable individual with the Keleher surname was John Keleher, an Irish-American author and journalist, who was born in 1828 and wrote extensively about Irish culture and history.

Another prominent figure was Patrick Keleher, an Irish-Canadian businessman and politician, who was born in 1854 and served as a member of the Canadian Parliament.

In the 19th century, the Keleher surname also appeared in literary works, such as the novel "The Kellehers of Ballymore" by Irish author Rosa Mulholland, published in 1888.

Throughout history, the Keleher surname has been associated with various occupations, from clergy and scholars to writers and politicians, reflecting the diverse experiences and contributions of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keleher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keleher surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 16 Kelehers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.25x.

County Total Index
Kent 16 9.25x
Middlesex 10 1.97x
Lancashire 8 1.33x
Yorkshire 7 1.39x
Glamorgan 5 5.66x
Lanarkshire 5 3.05x
Gloucestershire 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Woolwich in Kent leads with 7 Kelehers recorded in 1881 and an index of 109.55x.

Place Total Index
Woolwich 7 109.55x
West Derby 6 34.07x
Cambusnethan 5 137.36x
Canterbury St Peter 5 2500.00x
Cardiff St Mary 5 102.88x
Clerkenwell London 5 41.77x
Normanby In 5 373.13x
St Pancras London 4 9.80x
Deptford St Nicholas 2 145.99x
Everton 2 10.43x
Plumstead 2 34.66x
Pudsey 2 74.35x
Islington London 1 2.03x
Westbury On Trym 1 29.67x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Keleher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Mary 5
E. 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Isabella 1
Johannah 1
Julia 1
M. 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Keleher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 7
Edward 2
Patrick 2
C. 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Henry 1
Humphry 1
J. 1
Michael 1
Walter 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Keleher households.

FAQ

Keleher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keleher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Keleher surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keleher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Keleher a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Keleher surname mean?

Irish surname transferred from the Gaelic personal name Ó Céileachair meaning "descendant of Céileachair".

What does the Keleher map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Keleher bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.