Find out how popular the last name Kelham is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kelham.

Kelham, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kelham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kelham in America

Kelham is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kelham surname appeared 101 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kelham.

The history of the last name Kelham

The surname Kelham has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from a place name, specifically a town or village called Kelham, located in Nottinghamshire. The name itself is likely derived from the Old English words "cel" meaning "spring" or "stream" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "settlement."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kelham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cheleham." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a comprehensive record of landholdings and property ownership across England.

During the 13th century, the surname Kelham appeared in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1230, where it was spelled "Kellum." This variation in spelling was common during that time period due to the inconsistencies in written language.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Kelham throughout history include Sir John Kelham (1565-1637), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire. Another prominent figure was Robert Kelham (1717-1808), an English antiquarian and topographer who authored several works on the history and antiquities of the county of Nottinghamshire.

In the literary realm, the name Kelham is associated with Robert Kelham Cooke (1790-1853), an English author and poet who published works such as "The Life of Theodore, King of Corsica" and "Memoirs of the House of Cressy."

The surname Kelham also has connections to the religious sphere, with individuals like William Kelham (1571-1639), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Peterborough from 1628 until his death.

Another notable figure was Richard Kelham (1736-1799), an English land surveyor and cartographer who produced maps of various counties in England, including Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Throughout its history, the surname Kelham has maintained its strong ties to the English county of Nottinghamshire, where it originated from the eponymous town or village. While variations in spelling have occurred over time, the core meaning and significance of the name remain rooted in its geographical origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kelham

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kelham.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kelham was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kelham was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kelham, please contact us.

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