NameCensus.

UK surname

Kelshaw

A locational surname referring to someone from Kelshall in the English county of Hertfordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 253 people recorded with the Kelshaw surname, ranking it #10,980 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 151, ranked #23,615, down from #10,980 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea, Manchester and Blackpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kelshaw is 253 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 40.3%.

1881 census count

253

Ranked #10,980

Modern count

151

2016, ranked #23,615

Peak year

1881

253 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kelshaw had 253 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,980 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016, ranked #23,615.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 253 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Kelshaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kelshaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kelshaw 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 159 #12,400
1861 historical 196 #12,223
1881 historical 253 #10,980
1891 historical 218 #14,023
1901 historical 222 #14,169
1911 historical 245 #13,084
1997 modern 163 #20,038
1998 modern 181 #19,229
1999 modern 192 #18,689
2000 modern 190 #18,806
2001 modern 174 #19,562
2002 modern 171 #20,177
2003 modern 171 #19,953
2004 modern 159 #21,007
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 149 #22,013
2007 modern 160 #21,296
2008 modern 161 #21,431
2009 modern 165 #21,552
2010 modern 168 #21,733
2011 modern 152 #23,101
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 160 #22,621
2014 modern 160 #22,824
2015 modern 157 #22,997
2016 modern 151 #23,615

Geography

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Where Kelshaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Manchester, Liverpool, West Derby and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swansea, Manchester, Blackpool, Stockport and Knowsley. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 009 Swansea
2 Manchester 005 Manchester
3 Blackpool 007 Blackpool
4 Stockport 011 Stockport
5 Knowsley 015 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kelshaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kelshaw

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

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Kelshaw 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

Kelshaw 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

Kelshaw falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kelshaw 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kelshaw

The surname Kelshaw has its origins in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from a place name, possibly an area near a stream or river, as the name is derived from the Old English words "celle" meaning a stream or spring, and "sceaga" meaning a small wood or grove.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kelshaw can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1297, where a Robert de Kelleshawe is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in Yorkshire during that time period.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms such as Kelleshaw, Kelleshawe, and Kelshagh, reflecting the evolving spelling conventions of the time. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334 for West Yorkshire mention a William de Kelleshawe, while the Poll Tax Records of 1379 for Yorkshire include a John Kelshagh.

The Kelshaw surname has also been linked to several place names in Yorkshire, such as Kelshaw in the parish of Calverley, and Kelshaw in the township of Tong. These place names likely derived from the same Old English roots as the surname itself.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the Kelshaw surname include:

1. John Kelshaw (c. 1520 - 1585), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs.

2. Thomas Kelshaw (c. 1650 - 1718), a prominent English clockmaker from Yorkshire, known for his intricate and highly regarded timepieces.

3. William Kelshaw (1772 - 1845), a wealthy English industrialist and landowner from Wakefield, Yorkshire, who played a significant role in the development of the local textile industry.

4. Elizabeth Kelshaw (1836 - 1916), a British philanthropist and social reformer, known for her work in establishing schools and improving living conditions for the poor in Yorkshire.

5. Henry Kelshaw (1867 - 1941), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

While the Kelshaw surname is not as common today as it once was, its historical roots and connections to various places and notable figures in Yorkshire provide a fascinating glimpse into the rich tapestry of English surnames and their evolution over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kelshaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kelshaw 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. Lancashire leads with 131 Kelshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.46x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 131 4.46x
Yorkshire 82 3.34x
Cheshire 15 2.74x
Monmouthshire 11 6.14x
Shropshire 8 3.74x
Denbighshire 4 4.27x
Lincolnshire 1 0.25x
Middlesex 1 0.04x
Staffordshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hulme in Lancashire leads with 20 Kelshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.58x.

Place Total Index
Hulme 20 32.58x
Liverpool 19 10.64x
Elland Cum Greetland 18 162.75x
Bedwellty 11 34.79x
Soothill 11 124.01x
Wavertree 11 116.90x
West Derby 11 12.79x
Everton 10 10.67x
Hunslet 10 26.12x
Preston 10 12.71x
Thornton In Bradford 9 110.16x
Kimberworth 8 58.69x
Mexborough 8 164.27x
Astley 7 308.37x
Macclesfield 7 28.79x
Nether Hallam 7 21.07x
Hordley 6 2400.00x
Huddersfield 6 16.77x
Windle 5 30.23x
Abram 4 176.99x
Bury 4 11.91x
Chirk 4 217.39x
Gomersal 4 34.90x
Lathom 4 112.68x
Radcliffe 4 28.23x
Altrincham 3 31.38x
Knutsford Nether 3 90.63x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 4.28x
Church Coniston 2 243.90x
Great Bolton 2 5.14x
Huyton With Roby 2 58.14x
Pendleton In Salford 2 5.71x
Widnes 2 9.43x
Althorpe 1 111.11x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.56x
Blackburn 1 1.28x
Bromborough 1 87.72x
Burslem 1 4.17x
Cheetham 1 4.56x
Colne 1 11.42x
Garston 1 11.52x
Halifax 1 2.77x
Islington London 1 0.42x
Little Bolton 1 2.65x
Manchester 1 0.76x
Monks Coppenhall 1 4.85x
Oswaldtwistle 1 9.62x
Ruyton Of Eleven Towns 1 105.26x
Salford 1 1.16x
Shifnal 1 17.21x
Walton On Hill 1 6.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Ann 13
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 12
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Harriet 4
Alice 3
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
Jane 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Betsy 2
Emma 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Anastatia 1
Anne 1
Betty 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ema 1
Fanney 1
Florence 1
Joamas 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Louisa 1
Luisa 1
Margreat 1
Matilda 1
Preicella 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 22
William 18
Thomas 13
James 9
George 6
Joseph 5
Peter 4
Robert 4
Edward 3
Henry 3
David 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Jonathan 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Charlie 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Ingham 1
Ira 1
Matthew 1
Oliver 1
R.Henry 1
Ritchard 1
Robt. 1
Ruben 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Ted 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Hy. 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Kelshaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kelshaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 253 people were recorded with the Kelshaw surname. That placed it at #10,980 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kelshaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016. That gives Kelshaw a modern rank of #23,615.

What does the Kelshaw surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Kelshall in the English county of Hertfordshire.

What does the Kelshaw map show?

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