Show ContentsKelland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Kelland belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in the now-lost settlement of Kelland Barton in the county of Devon. The surname Kelland 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 Kelland family

The surname Kelland was first found in Devon where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Painsford in Asprington, some say before the Norman Conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy in 1066 A.D. Professor Seary of Newfoundland suggests that there was also a Kelland Barton in Devon but he has been unable to find it. This may have been a family tradition.

Early History of the Kelland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kelland research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1635, 1679, 1681, 1685, 1692 and 1712 are included under the topic Early Kelland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kelland Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Kelland include Kelland, Kellands, Kellan, Kellen, Keland, Kelan, Kelane, Kellane, Keeland, Kealand, Kellend and many more.

Early Notables of the Kelland family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • John Kelland (c.1635-1692), of Painsford, Ashprington, Devon, an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Totnes in March 1679, 1681 and 1685


United States Kelland migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Kelland were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Kelland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Philip Kelland, aged 40, who landed in New York in 1812 1
  • John Kelland was a Commissioner at Heart's Content in America in 1844
  • Julia Kelland, aged 24, who arrived in New York in 1894 aboard the ship "Etruria" from Liverpool, England 2
Kelland Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Julia Kelland, aged 46, originally from Barnstable, England, who arrived in New York in 1908 aboard the ship "Saint Paul" from Southampton, England 2
  • Rose B. Kelland, aged 22, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Louisville" from Liverpool, England 2
  • Henry Kelland, aged 23, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Aquitania" from Southampton, England 2
  • Walter Kelland, aged 50, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Huron" from Montevideo, Santos & Rio De Janeiro 2

Canada Kelland migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kelland Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Kelland Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • George Kelland was a shoemaker at St. John's, Newfoundland in 1806 3
  • Robert Kelland was a fisherman of Port de Grave, Newfoundland in 1843 3
  • Arianna Kelland, who settled in Scilly Cove, Newfoundland in 1856 3

Australia Kelland migration to Australia +

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

Kelland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Priscilla Kelland, aged 25, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Kelland (post 1700) +

  • Clarence Budington Kelland, American Republican politician, Member of Republican National Committee from Arizona, 1940-52 5
  • Philip Kelland Sr. (b. 1847), English curate in Dunster, Somerset, England
  • Philip Kelland PRSE FRS Jr. (1808-1879), English mathematician who was mainly known for his development of education in Scotland
  • Eve Louise Kelland (1889-1943), Australian actress and singer who later became organiser and administrator of the British Ballet Organization and founder of The Dancer magazine in 1928

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Thomas Kelland (d. 1912), aged 21, English Library Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 6


  1. 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)
  2. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  3. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  4. South Australian Register Monday 27th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Sir Edward Parry 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/siredwardparry1854.shtml
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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