Show ContentsKelly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish name Kelly has a long Gaelic heritage to its credit. The original Gaelic form of the name Kelly is O Ceallaigh or Mac Ceallaigh. These names denote descendants of Ceallach. This personal name may be derived from the word "ceallach," which means "strife."

Early Origins of the Kelly family

The surname Kelly was first found in southwest Ireland, south of Dublin where they held a family seat from very ancient times. The Kelly surname is conjecturally descended from King Colla da Crioch, who died in 357 A.D.

While most of the family claim Ireland as their heritage, we did find one reference in England: "Kelly, [Devon] is noteworthy as affording one of the few continuing local instances of families seated on the estates whence they take name. The Kellys of Kelly have held this manor from the time of Henry II. at least. " [1]

Henry II, King of England reigned from 1154 to 1189; so one may presume there is a relationship between the Irish and the English families, but this is the extent of our research at this time.

Early History of the Kelly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kelly research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1238, 1253, 1518, 1555, 1597, 1621, 1690, 1695, 1699 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Kelly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kelly Spelling Variations

Irish names were rarely spelled consistently in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations of the name Kelly dating from that time include Kelly, Kellie, O'Kelly, O'Killia and others.

Early Notables of the Kelly family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was

  • Daniel MacKelly
  • Sir Edward Kelley or Kelly, also known as Edward Talbot (1555-1597), Irish occultist and self-declared spirit medium
  • Charles O’Kelly (1621-1695) was an Irish soldier and writer from Aughrim, County Galway

Kelly World Ranking

In the United States, the name Kelly is the 74th most popular surname with an estimated 253,674 people with that name. [2] However, in Canada, the name Kelly is ranked the 60th most popular surname with an estimated 35,114 people with that name. [3] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Kelly is the 649th popular surname. [4] Newfoundland, Canada ranks Kelly as 29th with 697 people. [5] Australia ranks Kelly as 15th with 55,407 people. [6] New Zealand ranks Kelly as 63rd with 4,991 people. [7] The United Kingdom ranks Kelly as 50th with 81,180 people. [8]


United States Kelly migration to the United States +

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name Kelly or a variant listed above, including:

Kelly Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Brian Kelly, who purchased land in Virginia in 1635
  • Bryan Kelly, who landed in Maryland in 1635 [9]
  • Mr. Brian Kelly, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Safety" arriving in Virginia in 1635 [10]
  • Abraham Kelly, who landed in Virginia in 1640 [9]
  • Abel Kelly, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1641 [9]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Kelly Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Edmond Kelly, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 [9]
  • Arthur Kelly, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 [9]
  • Katherine Kelly, who landed in Virginia in 1741 [9]
  • Luke Kelly, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 [9]
  • Martin Kelly, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 [9]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Kelly Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • David Kelly and his wife Mary settled with their six children in New York in 1804
  • Mark Kelly, aged 30, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 [9]
  • Anne Kelly, who landed in America in 1805 [9]
  • Darby Kelly, who landed in New York, NY in 1810 [9]
  • Bartholomew Kelly, who arrived in America in 1811 [9]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Kelly Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Barton Cain Kelly, who landed in Alabama in 1913 [9]
  • Mary Ann Kelly, who arrived in Alabama in 1929 [9]

Canada Kelly migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kelly Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Kelly William U.E. who settled in Bell Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 [11]
  • Mr. Kelly John U.E. (b. 1746) who settled in Parr Town [Saint John], New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in Saint John in 1827 he was blind for the last 16 years of his life [11]
  • Mr. Kelly Joseph U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 [11]
  • Mr. Kelly Martin U.E. (b. 1740) born in Northern Ireland from Albany, New York, USA who settled in Pointe Saint -Pierre, Gaspé, Quebec in 1784, then Eastern District, Edwardsburgh Township he enlisted in 1776 serving in the Kings Loyal Rangers, Jessups Loyal Rangers and Grenville Ontario Militia, he was married with 3 children, he died in 1811 [11]
  • Mr. Kelly William U.E. (b. 1752) who settled in Parr Town [Saint John], New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1826 [11]
Kelly Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Walter Kelly, who settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1806
  • Margaret Kelly, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1810
  • John Kelly, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1826
  • Eleanor Kelly, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1829
  • Mary Kelly, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Britannia" from Sligo, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Kelly migration to Australia +

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

Kelly Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Kelly, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [12]
  • Miss Mary Kelly, (b. 1786), aged 17, English servant who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1854 [13]
  • Miss Mary Kelly, (Carrol,Carroll), Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
  • Mr. Thomas Kelly, Irish convict who was convicted in Kilkenny, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Boyd" on 10th March 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [15]
  • Miss Ann Kelly, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [16]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Kelly 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:

Kelly Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • J Kelly, who landed in Hokianga, New Zealand in 1831
  • Thomas Kelly, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
  • Mr. John Kelly, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston, UK aboard the ship "Brazil Packet" arriving in Hokianga, North Island, New Zealand in 1836 [17]
  • Joseph Kelly, who landed in Wairarapa, New Zealand in 1840
  • Maurice Kelly, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Kelly (post 1700) +

  • Clarence Kelly SSPV (1941-2023), American sedevacantist traditionalist Catholic bishop, co-founder of the Society of Saint Pius V and the founder of the Congregation of Saint Pius V
  • Bill Kelly (1947-2023), American football player and coach who played football for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1965 to 1969
  • James Harry "Jim" Kelly (1942-2022), American football tight end who played three seasons in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles (1964-1967)
  • Lee Kelly (1932-2022), American sculptor from McCall, Idaho, nicknamed "Oregon's sculptor"
  • Paula Kelly (1943-2020), American dancer, singer, and actress in films, television and theatre from Jacksonville, Florida
  • Brigit Pegeen Kelly (1951-2016), American poet
  • John Francis Kelly (b. 1950), American 5th United States Secretary of Homeland Security (2017-), Commander of the United States Southern Command (2012-2016), White House Chief of Staff for U.S. President Donald Trump (2017-)
  • Michael P. "Mike" Kelly (1942-2016), American politician, Member of the Alaska House of Representatives (2005-2011)
  • Ellison Lamar Kelly (1935-2016), American CFL football offensive lineman, inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1992)
  • Ellsworth Kelly (1923-2015), American painter, sculptor, and printmaker
  • ... (Another 37 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grover Shoe factory
  • Mrs. Stella Kelly, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; she died [18]
Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Isabella  Kelly (1873-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [19]
  • Mr. Francis  Kelly (1894-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [19]
  • Master Clifford  Kelly (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [19]
Hillsborough disaster
  • Michael David Kelly (1951-1989), English warehouse man who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries [20]
  • Anthony Peter Kelly (1959-1989), English football supporter who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries [20]
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Neville Andrew Kelly (1921-1941), Australian Stoker 2nd Class from Campsie, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [21]
  • Mr. James Vincent Kelly (1922-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Burnley, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [21]
HMS Cornwall
  • Johnstone Kelly (d. 1942), British Stoker 1st Class aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking [22]
HMS Dorsetshire
  • Bill Kelly, British aboard the HMS Dorsetshire (1945) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking [23]
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Robert Kelly (b. 1903), Irish Stoker Petty Officer serving for the Royal Navy from Londonderry, County Londonderry, Ireland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [24]
  • Mr. John Kelly (b. 1920), Scottish Ordnance Artificer 4th Class serving for the Royal Navy from Carlisle, Cumberland, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [24]
  • Mr. Jack V K Kelly (b. 1918), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Bath, Somerset, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [24]
  • Mr. Cornelius Kelly (b. 1914), English Ordinary Signalman serving for the Royal Navy from Blackburn, Lancashire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [24]
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. William H Kelly, British S , who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [25]
  • Mr. James Kelly, British Leading Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking, died whilst a Prisoner of War in Sumatra in 1943 [25]
  • Mr. Ernest Kelly, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [25]
HMS Royal Oak
  • Horace A.G. Kelly, British Musician with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking [26]
Lady of the Lake
  • Mr. Owen Kelly (b. 1814), Irish tailor from Malin Head, Ireland who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and he died in the sinking
Monongah Mine
  • Mr. Sam R. Kelly (b. 1873), "Kelley", American coal miner who was in mine 6 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died [27]
North Sea Flood
  • Robert Kelly, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)
  • Julianne Frances Kelly (1968-1988), American Student from Dedham, Massachusetts, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died [28]
RMS Lusitania
  • Miss Marie Kelly, Irish 3rd Class passenger residing in Boston, Massachusetts, USA returning to Ireland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered [29]
  • Mr. Sidney Crawford Kelly, English Intermediate 5th Engineer from Seacombe, Cheshire, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking [30]
  • Mr. Alfred Aloysius Kelly, English Scullion from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking [30]
  • Mr. John Kelly, English Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking [30]
  • Mr. Thomas Kelly, English Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking [30]
  • ... (Another 3 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. James Kelly (d. 1912), aged 44, English Greaser from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [31]
  • Mr. William Kelly (d. 1912), aged 23, Irish Assistant Electrician from Dublin, Ireland who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [31]
  • Mr. James Kelly (d. 1912), aged 19, Irish Third Class passenger from Unknown who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett [31]
  • Mr. James Kelly (d. 1912), aged 44, Irish Third Class passenger from Leixlip, Kildare who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [31]
  • Miss Anna Katherine Kelly, aged 20, Irish Third Class passenger from Cuilmullagh, Co Mayo who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 16 [31]
  • ... (Another 2 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. John Kelly (b. 1891), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
SS Southern Cross
  • Mr. James Kelly (b. 1914), Newfoundlander from Brigus who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
St. Francis Dam
  • Mrs. Ida M. Kelly, (nee Bryson), American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
  • Mr. Harold Herbert Kelly, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
  • Miss Phyllis N. Kelly, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
  • Miss Dolores D. Kelly, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
  • Mr. Everett M. Kelly, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
  • ... (Another 1 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Robert Lee Kelly, American Chief Electrician's Mate-Assigned from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [32]
Victoria steamboat disaster
  • John Kelly, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881


The Kelly Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Turris Fortis Mihi Deus
Motto Translation: God is a strong tower to me.


  1. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  4. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  5. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  9. 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)
  10. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  11. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd June 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Boyd
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
  19. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  20. Hillsborough Victims (retreived 21st March 2021). Retreived from https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/remembering-96-victims-hillsborough-disaster-30-years-9206566/
  21. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  22. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  23. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  24. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  25. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  26. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  27. Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).
  28. Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html
  29. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  30. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  31. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  32. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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