NameCensus.

UK surname

Kellaway

A locational surname derived from a place named Kellaway.

In the 1881 census there were 631 people recorded with the Kellaway surname, ranking it #5,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 867, ranked #6,471, down from #5,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Poole St James, London parishes and Wool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, North Devon and North Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kellaway is 942 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.4%.

1881 census count

631

Ranked #5,619

Modern count

867

2016, ranked #6,471

Peak year

1999

942 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kellaway had 631 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 867 in 2016, ranked #6,471.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 864 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kellaway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kellaway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kellaway 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 470 #5,285
1861 historical 376 #6,792
1881 historical 631 #5,619
1891 historical 640 #6,055
1901 historical 837 #5,427
1911 historical 864 #5,140
1997 modern 892 #6,001
1998 modern 928 #6,012
1999 modern 942 #5,985
2000 modern 916 #6,097
2001 modern 904 #6,061
2002 modern 905 #6,170
2003 modern 893 #6,124
2004 modern 891 #6,148
2005 modern 863 #6,235
2006 modern 847 #6,341
2007 modern 870 #6,259
2008 modern 888 #6,191
2009 modern 902 #6,255
2010 modern 929 #6,224
2011 modern 924 #6,199
2012 modern 897 #6,261
2013 modern 884 #6,435
2014 modern 896 #6,394
2015 modern 880 #6,420
2016 modern 867 #6,471

Geography

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Where Kellaways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Poole St James, London parishes, Wool, Freshwater and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, North Devon, North Dorset and Eastleigh. 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 Poole St James Dorset
2 London parishes London 3
3 Wool Dorset
4 Freshwater Hampshire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 004 West Dorset
2 North Devon 013 North Devon
3 North Dorset 008 North Dorset
4 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
5 Eastleigh 009 Eastleigh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kellaway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kellaway

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kellaway, 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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Kellaway is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kellaway is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kellaway falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kellaway is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kellaway

The surname Kellaway has its roots in England, originating during the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place name that referred to a geographical feature or landmark. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "cyll" meaning a spring or stream, and "weg" meaning a way or path, suggesting it may have referred to a settlement or dwelling near a spring or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Kellawai" in the county of Somerset. This suggests that the name was well-established in southwestern England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, a reference to a "Richard de Kellewey" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1230. This early spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of the name over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Kellaway include:

1. Thomas Kellaway (c. 1615-1695), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Bamburgh, Northumberland. 2. John Kellaway (1674-1741), a British naval officer and explorer who conducted surveys of the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. 3. Robert Kellaway (1808-1888), a prominent English architect known for his work on the design of several churches and public buildings in Bristol and the surrounding areas. 4. Mary Kellaway (1856-1935), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and was a member of the Women's Social and Political Union. 5. Herbert John Kellaway (1884-1969), an Australian politician who served as the Premier of Victoria from 1945 to 1947.

The surname Kellaway has been found in various place names throughout England, such as Kellaway Bridge in Somerset, which likely derived its name from the nearby settlement or family that bore the surname. Additionally, variations like Kelleway and Kelway have been documented, further illustrating the evolving nature of the name over centuries of use.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kellaway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kellaway 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. Dorset leads with 208 Kellaways recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.61x.

County Total Index
Dorset 208 50.61x
Devon 114 8.74x
Hampshire 98 7.63x
Middlesex 40 0.64x
Somerset 29 2.88x
Gloucestershire 27 2.20x
Kent 23 1.08x
Surrey 22 0.72x
Staffordshire 12 0.57x
Cornwall 10 1.41x
Northumberland 9 0.97x
Channel Islands 8 4.31x
Wiltshire 8 1.44x
Sussex 6 0.57x
Yorkshire 6 0.10x
Essex 5 0.40x
Monmouthshire 4 0.88x
Glamorgan 3 0.28x
Royal Navy 3 4.02x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.53x
Westmorland 2 1.45x
Berkshire 1 0.21x
Cumberland 1 0.19x
Shropshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 24 Kellaways recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.54x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 24 9.54x
East Stoke 19 1520.00x
Wool 18 1651.38x
Dewlish 16 1616.16x
Mappowder 15 3125.00x
Southampton St Mary 14 17.34x
Mile End Old Town London 13 9.75x
Shebbear 13 663.27x
Puddletown 12 476.19x
Handsworth 11 21.11x
Lifton 11 350.32x
Poole St James 11 71.24x
Melcombe Regis 10 58.72x
Tavistock 10 67.34x
Hilton 9 633.80x
Plymouth Charles The 9 15.67x
Wells St Cuthbert 9 130.81x
Abbotsbury 8 380.95x
Christchurch 8 28.75x
Deptford St Paul 8 4.85x
Horfield 8 64.72x
Lewtrenchard 8 1212.12x
Milton 8 250.78x
St Saviour 8 77.97x
Wandsworth 8 13.27x
Yalding 8 148.15x
Chickerell 7 397.73x
Child Okeford 7 386.74x
Clifton 7 11.27x
East Holme 7 3684.21x
Kinson 7 87.17x
Lambeth 7 1.28x
South Stoneham 7 25.14x
Bristol St Paul In 6 18.34x
Burnham 6 78.02x
Exeter St Thomas The 6 45.15x
West Knighton 6 895.52x
Bratton Clovelly 5 387.60x
Byker 5 10.86x
Edburton 5 684.93x
Fulham London 5 5.51x
Germansweek 5 877.19x
Heanton Punchardon 5 526.32x
Kenwyn 5 26.97x
Milford 5 133.33x
Millbrook 5 15.47x
Monckton Combe 5 155.28x
Newington 5 2.16x
Romsey Extra 5 65.53x
Spreyton 5 609.76x
Stowford 5 595.24x
Sunbury 5 66.49x
Swindon 5 11.64x
Whippingham 5 51.44x
Winfrith Newburgh 5 242.72x
Charlton Marshall 4 285.71x
Cramlington 4 32.49x
Kensington London 4 1.15x
Langtree 4 253.16x
Lower Llanvrechva 4 90.09x
Okehampton 4 81.30x
Parkstone 4 83.33x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 3.98x
Bridestow 3 217.39x
Bristol St Michael 3 28.49x
Briton Ferry 3 23.06x
Cerne Abbas 3 150.75x
Corscombe 3 214.29x
Hackney London 3 0.85x
Milborne St Andrew 3 245.90x
Pilton 3 69.77x
Puddle Hinton 3 352.94x
Royal Navy 3 4.70x
Southampton All Sts 3 13.62x
Stoke Abbott 3 254.24x
Tollard Royal 3 500.00x
Ventnor 3 24.57x
West Monkton 3 135.14x
Winterborne Whitechurch 3 333.33x
Wombwell 3 16.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 17
Jane 15
Annie 14
Emily 12
Eliza 10
Alice 9
Louisa 9
Ann 8
Susan 8
Ellen 7
Fanny 7
Hannah 7
Maria 7
Bessie 6
Caroline 6
Emma 6
Florence 5
Edith 4
Harriet 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Martha 4
Bertha 3
Charlotte 3
Deborah 3
Frances 3
Julia 3
Rose 3
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Ethel 2
Francis 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Leah 2
Lousia 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Nellie 2
Phoebe 2
Priscilla 2
Rosetta 2
Theresa 2
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Anne 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 50
John 39
James 27
George 20
Henry 15
Charles 13
Thomas 13
Frederick 10
Walter 10
Joseph 9
Albert 8
Robert 7
Edward 6
Alfred 5
Fred 4
Arthur 3
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Chas. 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Willm. 2
Amos 1
Augustas 1
Bertram 1
Cephas 1
Douglas 1
Earnest 1
Eli 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
F.E. 1
F.W. 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Jabez 1
Jerrmiah 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Owen 1
P.W. 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Kellaway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kellaway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 631 people were recorded with the Kellaway surname. That placed it at #5,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kellaway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 867 in 2016. That gives Kellaway a modern rank of #6,471.

What does the Kellaway surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named Kellaway.

What does the Kellaway map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kellaway 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.