Kelle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

The name Kelle is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived near a well or spring; keld was a common word in the north of England for these. According to some experts, the surname Kelle is also occasionally derived from the Old Norse word ketill, which means cauldron and sometimes refers to such an object used in sacrificial rites. 1

Early Origins of the Kelle family

The surname Kelle was first found in Hampshire, but the name could have derived from the place name Keld of which there are two in England: Keld (or Keilde), a hamlet in Cumbria; and Keld, another hamlet in North Yorkshire. Another reference claims the name was "formerly written Cail, and said by the family to be derived from Cailly in Normandy. " 2

Early History of the Kelle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kelle research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1176, 1311, 1379, 1524, 1739 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kelle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kelle Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Kelle has been spelled many different ways, including Kell, Kel, Kelle, Keld and others.

Early Notables of the Kelle family

Distinguished members of the family include

Ansfredus Kelle, a prominent 12th century landholder in Hampshire

Migration of the Kelle family to Ireland

Some of the Kelle family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kelle migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Kelles to arrive in North America:

Kelle Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Christopher Kelle, who landed in Virginia in 1655 3

Kelle Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johann Kelle, who landed in Long Island in 1781 3

Kelle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christian Kelle, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1858 3
John Kelle, who arrived in Arkansas in 1882 3

Citations +

Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)