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

Kell, 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 Kell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kell in America

Kell is the 7298th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kell surname appeared 4,568 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Kell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kell to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kell

The surname Kell is thought to have originated in England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "col" or "col-le", meaning a charcoal-burner or someone who worked with charcoal or coal. The name may have also been derived from a Middle English word "kell", meaning a kiln or oven used for drying hops or malt in the process of brewing beer.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname Kell can be found in various county records and tax rolls from the 13th and 14th centuries. In 1273, a Robert Kell was listed in the Huntingdonshire Hundred Rolls, while a John Kelle was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Kell (c. 1315-1381), a nobleman and landowner from Northamptonshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for the county in 1349 and held several influential positions during the reign of Edward III.

In the 16th century, the surname Kell was also associated with various place names in England, such as Kellbrook in Derbyshire and Kelle's Green in Hertfordshire. These place names may have originated from individuals bearing the Kell surname who once lived or owned land in those areas.

Another notable figure was Richard Kell (1587-1639), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral. He published several works on religious subjects and was a prominent figure in the Church of England during the reign of Charles I.

During the 17th century, the Kell surname was found in various parts of England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in counties such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Wiltshire. One example is Thomas Kell (1628-1708), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who served as the Mayor of Hull in 1678.

In the 18th century, the name Kell was also present in Scotland, with records showing individuals bearing the surname in areas such as Aberdeenshire and Inverness-shire. One notable figure from this period was John Kell (1740-1821), a Scottish physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in Scotland.

Throughout history, the surname Kell has been associated with various professions and backgrounds, from noblemen and landowners to clergymen, merchants, and academics. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings related to charcoal-burning or brewing, it has since become a part of the rich tapestry of English and Scottish genealogy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kell

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

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 Kell 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kell has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Kell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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