NameCensus.

UK surname

Kells

An Irish surname derived from the town of Kells, County Meath.

In the 1881 census there were 115 people recorded with the Kells surname, ranking it #18,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 309, ranked #14,442, up from #18,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Three Rivers, Northampton and Peterborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kells is 309 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 168.7%.

1881 census count

115

Ranked #18,230

Modern count

309

2016, ranked #14,442

Peak year

2016

309 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kells had 115 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 309 in 2016, ranked #14,442.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 180 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kells surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kells surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kells 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 49 #24,448
1861 historical 180 #13,057
1881 historical 115 #18,230
1891 historical 149 #18,420
1901 historical 128 #19,822
1911 historical 149 #17,937
1997 modern 284 #14,006
1998 modern 288 #14,249
1999 modern 285 #14,438
2000 modern 289 #14,272
2001 modern 285 #14,191
2002 modern 296 #14,110
2003 modern 285 #14,295
2004 modern 278 #14,609
2005 modern 268 #14,905
2006 modern 265 #15,126
2007 modern 277 #14,818
2008 modern 275 #15,036
2009 modern 297 #14,519
2010 modern 299 #14,769
2011 modern 295 #14,758
2012 modern 289 #14,875
2013 modern 297 #14,844
2014 modern 306 #14,647
2015 modern 296 #14,893
2016 modern 309 #14,442

Geography

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Where Kells' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Batley, Liverpool and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Three Rivers, Northampton, Peterborough and Barrow-in-Furness. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Three Rivers 004 Three Rivers
2 Northampton 005 Northampton
3 Northampton 004 Northampton
4 Peterborough 022 Peterborough
5 Barrow-in-Furness 005 Barrow-in-Furness

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kells

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kells

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kells, 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 Kells surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kells 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kells is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Kells 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

Kells falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kells 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Kells

The surname KELLS is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the area around the town of Kells, County Meath. The name is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic words "ceall" or "cill," which means "church" or "monastery."

In the early medieval period, the town of Kells was home to a renowned monastic settlement and a significant center of learning and religious activity. The Book of Kells, a masterpiece of Western calligraphy and illumination, is believed to have been created by Celtic monks in the scriptorium of the monastery in Kells around the year 800 AD.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname KELLS can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a Maelmuire Ua Cellaigh (O'Kelly) in the year 1156. The surname is also found in the Pipe Rolls of Cloyne, a medieval Irish taxation record from the late 12th century.

Notable historical figures with the surname KELLS include John Kells Ingram (1823-1907), an Irish scholar and economist who served as the first president of the Royal Irish Academy. Another prominent individual was Dudley Kells (1619-1686), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Charles II.

In the 19th century, Sir John Kells Ingram (1835-1907), a renowned Irish mathematician and philosopher, made significant contributions to the fields of metaphysics and the philosophy of science. He was also a co-founder of the British Society for the Advancement of Science.

The surname KELLS has also been associated with several place names, such as Kells in County Meath, Ireland, and Kells Parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Additionally, there are variations in the spelling of the name, including Kell, Kel, and Kelly, which may have originated from the same root.

Throughout history, the surname KELLS has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, politicians, lawyers, and religious figures, all with ties to the ancient town of Kells and its monastic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kells families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kells 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. Yorkshire leads with 21 Kells' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.99x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 21 1.99x
Lancashire 17 1.35x
Midlothian 12 8.43x
Lanarkshire 11 3.20x
Surrey 10 1.93x
Durham 6 1.90x
Peeblesshire 6 120.00x
Berkshire 4 5.01x
Devon 4 1.81x
Aberdeenshire 3 3.05x
Ayrshire 3 3.77x
Cumberland 2 2.19x
Kent 2 0.55x
Middlesex 2 0.19x
Essex 1 0.48x
Fife 1 1.59x
Hampshire 1 0.46x
Herefordshire 1 2.29x
Perthshire 1 2.10x
Wiltshire 1 1.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lofthouse Cum Carlton in Yorkshire leads with 12 Kells' recorded in 1881 and an index of 937.50x.

Place Total Index
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 12 937.50x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 8 163.60x
Windle 8 112.68x
Barrow In Furness 7 40.79x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 12.22x
Eddleston 6 2307.69x
Wandsworth 6 58.65x
Colinton 5 314.47x
Bishopwearmouth 4 14.73x
Clewer 4 122.32x
Exeter St Olave 4 1379.31x
Hamilton 3 31.28x
Old Deer 3 160.43x
Camberwell 2 2.95x
Dalry 2 53.48x
Glasgow 2 3.28x
Govan 2 2.35x
Heworth 2 32.10x
Lanark 2 72.20x
Lewisham 2 10.34x
Millom 2 71.43x
Old Monkland 2 14.66x
Aldershot 1 13.70x
Falkland 1 101.01x
Hammersmith London 1 3.82x
Kincardine 1 204.08x
Lambeth 1 1.08x
Manchester 1 1.76x
Skircoat 1 24.10x
St Quivox 1 37.17x
St Sepulchre London 1 64.10x
Swindon 1 13.72x
Thames Ditton 1 92.59x
Tretire With 1 2000.00x
West Derby 1 2.71x
Woodford 1 42.02x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Kells surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kells surname in 1881?

In 1881, 115 people were recorded with the Kells surname. That placed it at #18,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kells surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 309 in 2016. That gives Kells a modern rank of #14,442.

What does the Kells surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the town of Kells, County Meath.

What does the Kells map show?

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