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

Kellett, 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 Kellett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kellett in America

Kellett is the 9267th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kellett surname appeared 3,513 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kellett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kellett 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 Kellett

The surname Kellett is of English origin, originating in the northern English counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "calf" and "hyll," meaning "calf hill" or "hill where calves graze." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a particular hill or elevated area associated with grazing calves.

The earliest recorded instances of the Kellett surname date back to the 13th century, with references found in various historical records and documents. One notable mention is in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1332, which lists a John de Kellet among the landowners of the region. This early spelling variation, "Kellet," highlights the name's connection to a specific place or location.

In the 14th century, the Kellett surname appeared in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, located in Yorkshire, further solidifying its presence in the northern English counties. The Wakefield Court Rolls from 1379 mention a William de Kellet, demonstrating the continued use of the locative prefix "de" in association with the surname.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Kellett surname was Sir John Kellett, a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Lancashire in the early 15th century. He served in this capacity during the reign of King Henry VI, from 1422 to 1461. Sir John Kellett's influence and landholdings in the region contributed to the widespread recognition of the family name.

Another notable figure bearing the Kellett surname was Sir Roger Kellett, who lived in the 16th century. He served as the Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1554 and played a significant role in the local governance and administration during the Tudor period.

In the 17th century, the Kellett surname was associated with the village of Kellet, located in the historic county of Lancashire. This place name likely derived from the same linguistic roots as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the geographical location.

One of the most distinguished individuals with the Kellett surname was Sir Henry Kellett (1806-1875), a British naval officer and Arctic explorer. He embarked on several expeditions to the Arctic regions, including the search for the ill-fated Franklin expedition in the mid-19th century. Sir Henry Kellett's achievements and contributions to Arctic exploration brought significant recognition to the Kellett name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kellett

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

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

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

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