NameCensus.

UK surname

Kellie

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "bright stream" or "shining stream".

In the 1881 census there were 223 people recorded with the Kellie surname, ranking it #11,998 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 386, ranked #12,202, down from #11,998 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dunbar, Duns and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chorley, Newcastle upon Tyne and Corby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kellie is 405 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.1%.

1881 census count

223

Ranked #11,998

Modern count

386

2016, ranked #12,202

Peak year

1901

405 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kellie had 223 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,998 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 386 in 2016, ranked #12,202.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 405 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Kellie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kellie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kellie 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 144 #13,277
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 223 #11,998
1891 historical 284 #11,542
1901 historical 405 #9,405
1911 historical 180 #15,961
1997 modern 368 #11,719
1998 modern 375 #11,939
1999 modern 372 #12,076
2000 modern 377 #11,903
2001 modern 362 #12,076
2002 modern 364 #12,268
2003 modern 348 #12,452
2004 modern 355 #12,326
2005 modern 356 #12,219
2006 modern 343 #12,626
2007 modern 372 #12,032
2008 modern 369 #12,210
2009 modern 390 #11,950
2010 modern 381 #12,436
2011 modern 372 #12,519
2012 modern 362 #12,615
2013 modern 374 #12,521
2014 modern 389 #12,258
2015 modern 380 #12,364
2016 modern 386 #12,202

Geography

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Where Kellies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dunbar, Duns, Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chorley, Newcastle upon Tyne, Corby, Cheshire West and Chester and Liverpool. 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 Dunbar Haddington
2 Duns Berwick
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 London parishes London 3
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chorley 014 Chorley
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 026 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Corby 004 Corby
4 Cheshire West and Chester 045 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Liverpool 006 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kellie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kellie

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Kellie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Kellie 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

Kellie 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 Kellie 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 Kellie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kellie

The surname Kellie is of Scottish origin, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "coille," which means "woods" or "forest." The name likely originated in the areas of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire, where there were significant wooded regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kellie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the swearing of allegiance to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners. The entry "William de Kelly" is believed to refer to an individual from the Kellie family.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Kelly, Kellie, and Kelley, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that time. The Kellie family was prominent in the region of Renfrewshire, where they held lands and estates.

The Domesday Book, a medieval census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Kellie. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the name, such as Kelledon in Lincolnshire and Kelleshulle in Norfolk.

Notable individuals with the surname Kellie include:

1. Sir Thomas Kellie (1540-1628), a Scottish landowner and politician who served as Lord of Session in the Court of Session. 2. John Kellie (1768-1842), a Scottish architect known for his work on the Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow. 3. William Kellie (1675-1744), a Scottish mathematician and philosopher who contributed to the development of Newtonian physics. 4. James Kellie (1802-1875), a Scottish-Australian explorer and surveyor who played a significant role in the exploration of Western Australia. 5. David Kellie (1781-1857), a Scottish surgeon and anatomist who made important contributions to the study of the brain and its membranes.

The surname Kellie has a long and rich history, rooted in the Scottish highlands and connected to the natural landscape of wooded areas. Its etymology and historical references reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of Scotland, while the notable individuals bearing this name have left their mark in various fields, from politics and architecture to exploration and medicine.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kellie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kellie 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. Midlothian leads with 59 Kellies recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.80x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 59 19.80x
Angus 17 8.25x
Kirkcudbrightshire 17 52.80x
Lanarkshire 17 2.36x
East Lothian 15 50.92x
Lancashire 12 0.45x
Ayrshire 11 6.61x
Morayshire 9 26.04x
Aberdeenshire 8 3.88x
Dunbartonshire 7 11.71x
Berwickshire 6 22.28x
Roxburghshire 6 14.90x
Channel Islands 5 7.59x
Kent 5 0.66x
Middlesex 4 0.18x
Northumberland 4 1.21x
Renfrewshire 4 2.32x
Sutherland 4 23.39x
Cheshire 2 0.41x
Durham 2 0.30x
Westmorland 2 4.09x
Banffshire 1 2.17x
Fife 1 0.76x
Hampshire 1 0.22x
Inverness-shire 1 1.51x
Norfolk 1 0.29x
Northamptonshire 1 0.48x
Perthshire 1 1.00x
Stirlingshire 1 1.22x
Surrey 1 0.09x
Warwickshire 1 0.18x
Wigtownshire 1 3.39x
Worcestershire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 33 Kellies recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.53x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 33 27.53x
Minnigaff 10 826.45x
Kilmarnock 8 40.38x
Alves 7 813.95x
Crichton 7 843.37x
Govan 7 3.94x
Kirkmabreck 7 496.45x
Dunse 6 235.29x
Forfar 6 53.76x
Jedburgh 6 151.90x
Lochee 6 326.09x
Old Kilpatrick 6 84.99x
Cambusnethan 5 31.29x
Dalkeith 5 85.03x
Edinburgh St Andrews 5 203.25x
Ellon 5 176.68x
Glasgow 5 3.91x
St Helier 5 23.31x
Walton On Hill 5 34.97x
Creich 4 235.29x
East Greenock 4 24.57x
Folkestone 4 27.17x
Haddington 4 91.95x
Westgate 4 19.52x
Yester 4 563.38x
Berwick North 3 145.63x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 14.31x
Edinburgh Old Church 3 125.52x
Everton 3 3.57x
Prestonkirk 3 204.08x
South Leith 3 8.95x
Birkenhead 2 5.11x
Dundee 2 2.60x
Dundonald 2 32.57x
Edinburgh Greenside 2 50.76x
Foveran 2 128.21x
Liff Benvie 2 6.39x
Stockton On Tees 2 6.27x
Undermilbeck 2 124.22x
Urquhart 2 122.70x
Brechin 1 12.35x
Chelsea London 1 1.49x
Dirleton 1 86.21x
Farnborough 1 20.88x
Gargunnock 1 188.68x
Heigham 1 5.45x
Islington London 1 0.46x
Kennoway 1 83.33x
Kensington London 1 0.81x
Kings Norton 1 3.84x
Kirkdale 1 2.25x
Kirkintilloch 1 12.32x
Laggan 1 142.86x
Loudoun 1 25.00x
Over Whitacre 1 454.55x
Penge 1 7.04x
Perth East Church 1 10.63x
Pitsligo 1 50.76x
Rathven 1 11.53x
Rothwell 1 47.62x
St Pancras London 1 0.56x
Stoneykirk 1 47.39x
Walmer 1 30.30x
West Calder 1 17.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 3
Jane 2
Marian 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Anna 1
Annia 1
Annie 1
Christana 1
Christina 1
Elizabeth 1
Esther 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Marion 1
Marjory 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 7
Robert 2
Archibald 1
Charles 1
Danl.S. 1
Harry 1
John 1
Owen 1
Wm. 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 Kellie households.

FAQ

Kellie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kellie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 223 people were recorded with the Kellie surname. That placed it at #11,998 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kellie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 386 in 2016. That gives Kellie a modern rank of #12,202.

What does the Kellie surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "bright stream" or "shining stream".

What does the Kellie map show?

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