Kellet Surname History

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The origins of the Kellet name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the settlement of Kellet in Lancashire, or in the place named Kelleth in Westmorland (now part of Cumbria). The surname Kellet belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Kellet family

The surname Kellet was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Kellett, from very ancient times. Conjecturally they are descended from an Anglo Saxon noble who occupied the King's land of Chellet, later Kellet, later Nether Kellet. It is now famous for its stalactite caves called the Dunald Mill Hole. Over Kellet, Lancashire appears as "Chellet of the Domesday Survey, and was an early a possession of a family named Kellet, whose heiress married Sir Thurstan de Holland." 1

Early History of the Kellet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kellet research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1550 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kellet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kellet Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Kellet were recorded, including Kelett, Kellet, Kellett, Kelat, Kelatt, Kellatt and others.

Early Notables of the Kellet family

Distinguished members of the family include

Kellett of Lancashire

Migration of the Kellet family to Ireland

Some of the Kellet family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kellet migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Kellet family emigrate to North America:

Kellet Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Francis Kellet who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1768

Kellet Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Kellet, who landed in New York in 1807 2

Kellet migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Kellet Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Kellet, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Thomas Lowry" in 1848 3

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THOMAS LOWRY 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848ThomasLowry.htm