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

Kellis, 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 Kellis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kellis in America

Kellis is the 33772nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kellis surname appeared 674 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 Kellis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kellis 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 Kellis

The surname Kellis is believed to have originated in Scotland, where it was derived from the Gaelic word "cealla," meaning "church" or "chapel." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages, when many surnames were derived from occupations or locations associated with an individual or family.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kellis can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, dating back to the late 13th century. These rolls were financial records maintained by the Scottish government, and they often included names of individuals involved in transactions or holding positions of authority.

In the 14th century, the name Kellis appeared in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of documents containing the names of Scottish noblemen and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This suggests that the Kellis family may have held some degree of prominence or landholdings during this period.

The spelling of the name Kellis has undergone various modifications over time, with alternative spellings such as Kellis, Kellys, and Kellies appearing in historical records. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects, scribal errors, or personal preferences.

One notable individual bearing the surname Kellis was William Kellis, a Scottish clergyman and philosopher who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was known for his writings on theology and his involvement in religious debates during the Protestant Reformation.

In the 17th century, John Kellis was a prominent merchant and landowner in the Scottish Lowlands. Records indicate that he owned several properties and was involved in international trade, reflecting the growing prosperity of the Kellis family during this period.

Another historical figure with the surname Kellis was Robert Kellis, a Scottish soldier who fought in the Jacobite Risings of the 18th century. He was captured during the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and later transported to the American colonies as an indentured servant.

In the 19th century, James Kellis was a notable Scottish inventor and engineer. He is credited with designing and patenting several innovative agricultural machines, contributing to the advancement of farming practices in Scotland and beyond.

One final example is Margaret Kellis, a Scottish author and poet who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her works often explored themes of Scottish culture, history, and identity, and she was recognized for her contributions to the literary scene of her time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kellis

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

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

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

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