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

Kelson, 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 Kelson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kelson in America

Kelson is the 14478th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kelson surname appeared 2,062 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 Kelson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kelson 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 Kelson

The surname Kelson is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, where it was derived from the Old English word "kell," meaning a spring or well, combined with the suffix "-son," meaning "son of." This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a spring or well.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kelson can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Kelsune." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provided a comprehensive record of landowners and property holdings in England following the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th century, the name Kelson was also associated with various place names in Yorkshire, such as Kelston and Kelshall. These place names shared a similar etymology, further solidifying the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Kelson throughout history include:

1. Richard Kelson (c. 1470-1545), an English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London.
2. William Kelson (1555-1628), an English clergyman and author of several religious works, including "The Pathway to Perfection" (1603).
3. Jane Kelson (1678-1742), a renowned English embroiderer whose intricate needlework adorned tapestries and ecclesiastical vestments.
4. Thomas Kelson (1720-1789), a British explorer and cartographer who accompanied Captain James Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific Ocean from 1772 to 1775.
5. Elizabeth Kelson (1810-1888), a pioneering English educator who founded one of the first schools for girls in the city of Liverpool.

The surname Kelson has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Kelston, Kellson, and Kelshan, reflecting the fluidity of language and regional dialects. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its distinct identity and continues to be carried by families across England and other parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kelson

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

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

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

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