NameCensus.

UK surname

Kiely

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cadhla, meaning "descendant of Cadhla," a personal name meaning "graceful" or "beautiful."

In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Kiely surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,900, ranked #3,343, up from #23,950 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Monmouthshire, Gwynedd and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kiely is 1,953 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2694.1%.

1881 census count

68

Ranked #23,950

Modern count

1,900

2016, ranked #3,343

Peak year

2014

1,953 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kiely had 68 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,950 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,900 in 2016, ranked #3,343.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 177 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Kiely surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kiely surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kiely 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 71 #20,875
1861 historical 64 #25,747
1881 historical 68 #23,950
1891 historical 117 #21,658
1901 historical 173 #16,579
1911 historical 177 #16,129
1997 modern 1,648 #3,603
1998 modern 1,763 #3,522
1999 modern 1,748 #3,576
2000 modern 1,751 #3,549
2001 modern 1,739 #3,494
2002 modern 1,796 #3,459
2003 modern 1,710 #3,563
2004 modern 1,710 #3,570
2005 modern 1,713 #3,518
2006 modern 1,722 #3,506
2007 modern 1,730 #3,522
2008 modern 1,763 #3,500
2009 modern 1,828 #3,460
2010 modern 1,899 #3,420
2011 modern 1,882 #3,407
2012 modern 1,873 #3,367
2013 modern 1,940 #3,323
2014 modern 1,953 #3,320
2015 modern 1,942 #3,309
2016 modern 1,900 #3,343

Geography

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Where Kielys are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Monmouthshire, Gwynedd, Birmingham, Torfaen and Bury. 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 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Monmouthshire 010 Monmouthshire
2 Gwynedd 002 Gwynedd
3 Birmingham 029 Birmingham
4 Torfaen 013 Torfaen
5 Bury 011 Bury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kiely

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kiely

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kiely, 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 Kiely surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Kiely 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, Kiely 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

Kiely 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

Kiely 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 Kiely is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Kiely

The surname Kiely originated in County Cork, Ireland, and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Gaelic name Ó Cadhla, which means "descendant of Cadhla." The name Cadhla is believed to have originated from the Old Irish word "cádh," meaning "chaste" or "pure."

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Kiely appears in the Annals of Innisfallen, a chronicle of Irish history written in the 12th century. The annals mention a chieftain named Cadhla Ó Cadhla in 1024, who was a member of the Uí Chonaill sept (clan) from West Muskerry, County Cork.

In the 13th century, the surname Kiely is found in the Pipe Rolls of Cloyne, which were records of taxes paid to the Church in County Cork. The name is also mentioned in the Fiants of the Tudor period, which were official documents issued by the English Crown.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Kiely was Maurice Kiely, a Catholic priest who lived in the 16th century. He was born in County Cork and served as the Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe from 1581 to 1613.

In the 17th century, the surname Kiely is recorded in the Census of Ireland, also known as the "Strafford Survey," conducted in 1659. The survey lists several Kiely families living in the baronies of West Muskerry and Duhallow, County Cork.

Another prominent figure with the surname Kiely was John Kiely (1821-1893), an Irish Catholic priest and educator from County Cork. He founded the Christian Brothers College in Melbourne, Australia, and played a significant role in the development of Catholic education in the country.

In the 19th century, John Kiely (1840-1905), a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, was involved in the Fenian Uprising of 1867. He was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison for his participation in the rebellion against British rule in Ireland.

Other notable individuals with the surname Kiely include Maurice Kiely (1885-1967), an Irish politician and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and Patrick Kiely (1909-1964), an Irish Catholic priest and educator who served as the President of St. Patrick's College in Thurles, County Tipperary.

Overall, the surname Kiely has a rich history rooted in County Cork, Ireland, and has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including religion, education, politics, and the struggle for Irish independence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kiely families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kiely 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 31 Kielys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.74x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 31 4.74x
Lancashire 10 1.29x
Surrey 9 2.83x
Glamorgan 5 4.39x
Dorset 4 9.33x
Kent 3 1.35x
Cumberland 1 1.78x
Durham 1 0.51x
Midlothian 1 1.14x
Monmouthshire 1 2.12x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 8 Kielys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.04x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 8 14.04x
Everton 7 28.32x
St Pancras London 7 13.31x
Westminster St John 6 75.38x
Burton Bradstock 4 1904.76x
St Marylebone London 4 11.46x
Bromley 3 88.24x
Gelligaer 3 115.38x
Isleworth 3 103.09x
Aberavon 2 190.48x
Willesden 2 32.47x
Aighton Bailey 1 270.27x
Battersea 1 4.16x
Bedwellty 1 11.99x
Bethnal Green London 1 3.52x
Bothamsall 1 1666.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 8.12x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 2.84x
Hammersmith London 1 6.21x
Hornsey 1 12.11x
Islington London 1 1.58x
Liverpool 1 2.12x
Rickergate 1 84.03x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 35.34x
St Martin In Fields 1 25.58x
Thornley 1 142.86x
Towerof London London 1 476.19x
Twickenham 1 35.71x
Westminster St Margaret 1 31.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 5
Margaret 4
Elizabeth 3
Mary 3
Annie 2
Bridget 2
Kate 2
Catherine 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Helen 1
Johannah 1
Margerit 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
Thomas 4
Michael 3
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
James 2
Philip 2
Cornelius 1
Danl. 1
Denis 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
George 1
Henry 1
Micheal 1
Patrick 1
Roger 1
William 1

FAQ

Kiely surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kiely surname in 1881?

In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Kiely surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kiely surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,900 in 2016. That gives Kiely a modern rank of #3,343.

What does the Kiely surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cadhla, meaning "descendant of Cadhla," a personal name meaning "graceful" or "beautiful."

What does the Kiely map show?

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