Kelf History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of Kelf

What does the name Kelf mean?

The ancestors of the Kelf family were part of an ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. They lived in the place named Colp in Aberdeenshire.

Early Origins of the Kelf family

The surname Kelf was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland.

One of the first records of the family was Johannes Coup who was recorded there in Aberdeen in 1408. "A 'commone hande bell, with ale proffetis,' was granted to William Colp and his son, David Colp in the same town in 1503, and a payment was made in 1518 to Sir Andrew Cup, evidently a cleric." 1

Early History of the Kelf family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kelf research. Another 160 words (11 lines of text) covering the year 1408 is included under the topic Early Kelf History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kelf Spelling Variations

In medieval Scotland, names were more often spelled according to sound than any regular set of rules. An enormous number of spelling variations were the result. Over the years, the name Kelf has been spelled Culp, Colp, Cup, Cope and others.

Early Notables of the Kelf family

More information is included under the topic Early Kelf Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kelf migration to Australia +

Kelf Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Kelf, (b. 1806), aged 27, English convict who was convicted in Norfolk, Norfolkshire, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 3rd November 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1877 2

Sources +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora