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

Kelling, 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 Kelling surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kelling in America

Kelling is the 11016th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kelling surname appeared 2,887 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 Kelling.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kelling 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 Kelling

The surname Kelling is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "cyll," meaning a narrow stream or tarn. It likely originated as a place name referring to someone who lived near a small stream or body of water.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Chillinga." This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "de Kellingg" and "de Kelling," indicating its use as a locational surname. The prefix "de" indicates "of" or "from," further reinforcing the name's connection to a specific place.

One notable bearer of the Kelling surname was Sir John Kelling, a prominent English judge who lived during the 15th century (c. 1390-1463). He served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench and was known for his expertise in the law.

Another historical figure with the Kelling surname was John Kelling, a Benedictine monk who lived in the 16th century (c. 1520-1592). He was a renowned scholar and writer, known for his works on theology and philosophy.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various parish records and court documents, indicating its continued presence in England. One such record is the will of William Kelling, dated 1637, which mentions properties in Norfolk, England.

The surname Kelling also has connections to the village of Kelling in Norfolk, England. It's likely that some early bearers of the name hailed from this area or nearby regions, further solidifying the name's geographical roots.

Other notable individuals with the Kelling surname include Robert Kelling (1720-1795), an English politician and member of Parliament, and William Kelling (1832-1901), a prominent architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kelling

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

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

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

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