NameCensus.

UK surname

Okelly

Irish surname derived from Ó Ceallaigh, meaning "descendant of Ceallach", an ancient Irish personal name.

In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Okelly surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 631, ranked #8,372, up from #26,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Warwick St Nicholas and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea, Chichester and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Okelly is 637 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1137.3%.

1881 census count

51

Ranked #26,428

Modern count

631

2016, ranked #8,372

Peak year

2014

637 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Okelly had 51 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 631 in 2016, ranked #8,372.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 124 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Okelly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Okelly surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Okelly 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 23 #29,205
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 51 #26,428
1891 historical 91 #25,239
1901 historical 85 #24,636
1911 historical 124 #20,023
1997 modern 583 #8,313
1998 modern 607 #8,318
1999 modern 597 #8,469
2000 modern 590 #8,514
2001 modern 569 #8,596
2002 modern 571 #8,734
2003 modern 569 #8,624
2004 modern 562 #8,721
2005 modern 566 #8,621
2006 modern 565 #8,657
2007 modern 575 #8,629
2008 modern 598 #8,437
2009 modern 609 #8,494
2010 modern 635 #8,398
2011 modern 617 #8,500
2012 modern 636 #8,208
2013 modern 628 #8,435
2014 modern 637 #8,390
2015 modern 628 #8,417
2016 modern 631 #8,372

Geography

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Where Okellys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Warwick St Nicholas, London parishes and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swansea, Chichester, Swindon and Derby. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Warwick St Nicholas Warwickshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 007 Swansea
2 Chichester 003 Chichester
3 Swindon 023 Swindon
4 Swansea 024 Swansea
5 Derby 025 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Okelly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Okelly

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Okelly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Okelly 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Okelly 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

Okelly 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

Okelly falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Okelly 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 Okelly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Okelly

The surname OKELLY is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Ó Ceallaigh, meaning "descendant of Ceallach." The name is believed to have originated in the 10th century in County Clare, Ireland, where the family held significant landholdings and prominence.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name OKELLY can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, dating back to the 12th century. The annals reference an individual named Domhnall Ó Ceallaigh, who was a prominent leader in the region.

The OKELLY family played a notable role in Irish history, particularly during the 16th and 17th centuries. They were staunch supporters of the Irish Confederate Wars and were involved in several battles against the English forces. One of the most famous members of the family was Colonel John OKELLY, who fought alongside the Irish Confederate leader Owen Roe O'Neill in the 1640s.

In the 17th century, the OKELLY clan faced significant upheaval and displacement due to the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland and the subsequent confiscation of their lands. Many members of the family were forced to flee to continental Europe, where they sought refuge and continued their military service.

One notable figure from this period was Colonel Charles OKELLY, who served in the Irish Brigade of the French army during the 18th century. He fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745, and achieved the rank of Brigadier General before his death in 1761.

Another prominent individual bearing the OKELLY surname was Patrick OKELLY, an Irish-born writer and dramatist who lived from 1753 to 1835. He authored several successful plays and was a member of the renowned Beefsteak Club, a literary society in London.

Throughout the centuries, the OKELLY name has been subject to various spellings, including O'Kelly, O'Kelley, and Okelly, reflecting the fluidity of Irish surnames and the influence of Anglicization. Despite the challenges faced by the family, the name OKELLY has endured, and its legacy remains deeply rooted in Irish history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Okelly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Okelly 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. Essex leads with 4 Okellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.54x.

County Total Index
Essex 4 11.54x
Middlesex 4 2.28x
Kent 2 3.34x
Hampshire 1 2.78x
Lanarkshire 1 1.76x
Lancashire 1 0.48x
Northumberland 1 3.83x
Somerset 1 3.54x
Staffordshire 1 1.69x
Surrey 1 1.17x
Yorkshire 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 4 Okellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.29x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 4 52.29x
Lewisham 2 62.70x
Aldershot 1 82.64x
Cotton 1 2500.00x
Glasgow 1 9.92x
Halifax 1 39.22x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 74.07x
North Meols 1 49.02x
Paddington London 1 15.48x
Penge 1 89.29x
St Marylebone London 1 10.67x
St Pancras London 1 7.08x
Wells St Cuthbert 1 526.32x
Westminster St John 1 46.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 2
Mary 2
Annie 1
Blanche 1
Emily 1
Jane 1
Julia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Arundell 1
George 1
Jese 1
Robert 1
Thos. 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 Okelly households.

FAQ

Okelly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Okelly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Okelly surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Okelly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 631 in 2016. That gives Okelly a modern rank of #8,372.

What does the Okelly surname mean?

Irish surname derived from Ó Ceallaigh, meaning "descendant of Ceallach", an ancient Irish personal name.

What does the Okelly map show?

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