NameCensus.

UK surname

Kelleher

An Irish occupational surname referring to a descendant of a warrior or rogue.

In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Kelleher surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,211, ranked #2,932, up from #20,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Brent and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kelleher is 2,288 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2356.7%.

1881 census count

90

Ranked #20,965

Modern count

2,211

2016, ranked #2,932

Peak year

2013

2,288 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kelleher had 90 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,211 in 2016, ranked #2,932.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 288 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Kelleher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kelleher surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kelleher 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 27 #28,467
1861 historical 20 #31,364
1881 historical 90 #20,965
1891 historical 151 #18,242
1901 historical 288 #11,973
1911 historical 258 #12,614
1997 modern 2,065 #2,977
1998 modern 2,157 #2,965
1999 modern 2,154 #2,997
2000 modern 2,140 #2,995
2001 modern 2,093 #2,993
2002 modern 2,109 #3,036
2003 modern 2,016 #3,093
2004 modern 2,037 #3,069
2005 modern 2,010 #3,073
2006 modern 2,033 #3,041
2007 modern 2,047 #3,058
2008 modern 2,078 #3,035
2009 modern 2,169 #2,992
2010 modern 2,259 #2,941
2011 modern 2,247 #2,923
2012 modern 2,220 #2,896
2013 modern 2,288 #2,870
2014 modern 2,281 #2,889
2015 modern 2,249 #2,897
2016 modern 2,211 #2,932

Geography

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Where Kellehers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, St Marylebone, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Brent, Dudley, Wakefield and Birmingham. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 034 Wigan
2 Brent 027 Brent
3 Dudley 030 Dudley
4 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
5 Birmingham 029 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kelleher

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kelleher

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Kelleher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Kelleher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kelleher is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kelleher is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kelleher falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kelleher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Kelleher

The surname Kelleher originated in Ireland and is a variant of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Ceallaigh, which means "descendant of Ceallach." Ceallach was a personal name derived from the word "ceall," meaning "church" or "monastery."

The name is believed to have first emerged in the 10th or 11th century in County Cork, where the Ó Ceallaigh clan was based. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including O'Kelly, Kelly, and Kelleher, as it spread to other parts of Ireland.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the name Kelleher can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals record a notable Kelleher figure named Domhnall Ó Ceallaigh, who was the Bishop of Lesmor (now Lismore) in County Waterford in the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the Kelleher family held lands in the Barony of Duhallow, County Cork, and were known for their involvement in local conflicts and battles. One notable member was Maoileachlainn Ó Ceallaigh, who fought against the Anglo-Norman invasion in the late 12th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Kellehers were among the prominent families in County Cork and played a role in the Desmond Rebellions against English rule. A famous figure from this period was Donough Kelleher, a landowner and leader in the Munster Plantation of the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name Kelleher became more widespread, with families bearing the name found in various parts of Ireland. One notable individual was Edmund Kelleher, a wealthy merchant and landowner in County Limerick, who lived from 1725 to 1801.

As the Kelleher name spread throughout Ireland and beyond, it produced several notable figures, including John Kelleher (1804-1885), an Irish-born politician and judge in New Zealand, and Daniel Kelleher (1857-1926), a prominent Irish Catholic priest and author in the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kelleher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kelleher 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. Middlesex leads with 22 Kellehers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.48x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 22 2.48x
Surrey 22 5.09x
Kent 16 5.28x
Glamorgan 8 5.18x
Yorkshire 7 0.80x
Monmouthshire 5 7.79x
Lancashire 4 0.38x
Gloucestershire 3 1.72x
Hampshire 2 1.10x
Essex 1 0.57x
Royal Navy 1 9.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 14 Kellehers recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.99x.

Place Total Index
Bermondsey 14 52.99x
St Marylebone London 9 18.99x
Deptford St Nicholas 8 333.33x
Lambeth 7 9.05x
Swansea Town 6 47.36x
Westminster St Margaret 6 140.19x
Minster In Sheppey 5 99.60x
Bedwellty 4 35.30x
Nether Hallam 4 33.61x
Bristol St James In 3 117.19x
Plumstead 3 29.73x
Southcoates 3 61.48x
Toxteth Park 3 8.41x
Farnborough 2 104.71x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 13.47x
St George Hanover Square 2 12.79x
St Pancras London 2 2.80x
Whitechapel London 2 22.86x
Aberystruth 1 17.67x
Kirkdale 1 5.64x
Mile End Old Town London 1 5.29x
Royal Navy 1 11.06x
Southwark St John 1 36.90x
West Ham 1 2.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Catherine 5
Ellen 3
Kate 3
Margaret 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Catharie 1
Easther 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Helena 1
Isabel 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Rose 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Kelleher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kelleher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Kelleher surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kelleher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,211 in 2016. That gives Kelleher a modern rank of #2,932.

What does the Kelleher surname mean?

An Irish occupational surname referring to a descendant of a warrior or rogue.

What does the Kelleher map show?

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