| ![Show Contents]() Kells History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland Early Origins of the Kells familyThe surname Kells was first found in Kirkcudbrightshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Chille Chuithbheirt), part of the present day Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, former county in Southwestern Scotland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. Early History of the Kells familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kells research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1890 is included under the topic Early Kells History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kells Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Kells and others. Early Notables of the Kells familyNotable amongst the family at this time was Kells RankingIn the United States, the name Kells is the 16,122nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1  Migration of the Kells family to Ireland
Some of the Kells family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 90 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Kells migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Kells Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- John Kells, who settled in New York in 1849
- Joseph and Richard Kells, who settled in Philadelphia in 1872
| Kells migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Kells Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Miss Matilda Kells, (b. 1806), aged 20, Irish country servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2
| Kells migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Kells Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- George Kells, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
- John Kells, who landed in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1840
- Joseph Kells, who landed in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1840
- William Kells, who landed in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1840
- Mrs. Sarah Kells née Hume, (b. 1831), aged 21, Irish settler travelling from London aboard the ship "True Briton" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 5th February 1853 3
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Kells (post 1700) | + |
- Major-General Clarence Howard Kells (1892-1954), American Commanding General New York Port of Embarkation (1945-1946) 4
- William Kells, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Illinois Democratic State Central Committee, 1919-25 5
- George D. Kells, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Illinois Democratic State Central Committee, 1943; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1944, 1948; Illinois Democratic State Chair, 1945-49 5
- Edward J. Kells (d. 1943), American Republican politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Harrison County, 1943 5
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Kells migration to the United States 
Kells migration to Australia 
Kells migration to New Zealand 
