Kelly /ˈkɛli/ is a surname in the Swahili language. The name has numerous origins. In some cases it is derived from toponyms located in Ireland and Great Britain, in other cases it is derived from patronyms in the Irish language.
In many cases Kelly is an Anglicisation of the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh (IPA [oːˈcal̪ˠiː]), which means "descendant of Ceallach " or it can also mean warrior or fighter. The personal name Ceallach has been thought to mean "white-headed", but the current understanding is that the name means "frequenting churches", derived from the Irish ceall. In other cases the surname Kelly is an Anglicisation of the Irish Ó Cadhla, which means "descendant of Cadhla". The O’Kelly or Kelly of the Clan Brasil Mac Coolechan originated as a chieftain clan of the Ulaid.
The surname can also be derived from several place names. For example, the surname can be derived from two places in Scotland: Kelly, near Arbroath; and Kellie, in Fife. The surname can also be derived from a place name in England: Kelly, in Devon. This place name is derived from the Cornish celli, meaning "wood" or "grove".
The surname is one of the most prevalent surnames in Ireland. It is also very common in Galloway, and the Isle of Man. The name O'Kelly, Kelly, Kelley, Kellie and the Gaelic form O'Ceallaigh, is the most common surname in Ireland. There are approximately half a million people worldwide who bear this name. Up until the 10th century surnames were not used in Ireland. The name O'Kelly did not spring from a single source, but arose independently in several areas in Ireland, also in Scotland and the Isle of Man and in England. In other areas, notably in Cornwall, Isle of Man and probably in Antrim, the name Kelly arose from Celli, meaning man of the woods.
Amanda KellyAmethyst Kelly, Australian rapper known as Iggy AzaleaArchie Kelly, Scottish footballerArvesta Kelly (born 1945), American basketball playerAutumn Kelly (born 1978), wife of Peter Phillips, grandson of Queen Elizabeth IIBenedictus Marwood Kelly (1785–1867), British naval officerBernard Kelly (disambiguation), several peopleBernie Kelly (disambiguation), several peopleBrian Kelly (actor) (1931–2005), American actorBrian Kelly (American football coach) (born 1961), American football coachBrigit Pegeen Kelly (born 1951), American poetBarbara Kelly (1924–2007), Canadian-born English actressCharles E. Kelly (soldier) (1920–1985), American soldierCharles E. Kelly (cartoonist) (1902–1981), Irish cartoonistCharles L. Kelly, US Army helicopter pilotCharlie Kelly (disambiguation), multiple peopleChip Kelly, American football coachClaire Kelly (1934–1998), American actressClare Kelly (1922–2001), English actressColin Kelly (1915–1941), World War II ace pilotCraig Kelly (actor) (born 1970), British actorDarren Kelly (born 1978), Northern Irish footballerDave Kelly (disambiguation), several peopleDavid Kelly (disambiguation), several peopleDean Lennox Kelly (born 1975), British actorDe-Anne Kelly (born 1954), Australian politicianDes Kelly (born 1965), British journalistDon Kelly (baseball) (born 1980), American professional baseball playerEamon Kelly (actor) (1914–2001), Irish actor and authorEdward Kelly (disambiguation)Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015), American painter and sculptorEmmett Kelly (1898–1979), American circus performerEric P. Kelly (1884–1960), American authorEugene Kelly (born 1965), Scottish musicianFitzroy Kelly (1796–1880), British judgeFlorence Finch Kelly (1858–1939), American journalist and novelistFrancis Kelly (Canadian politician) (1803–1879)Francis Kelly (Medal of Honor) (1860–1938), American sailorFrank Kelly (disambiguation)Frederick Kelly (disambiguation)Gene Kelly, American actorGeorge Kelly (baseball) (1895–1984), American baseball playerGeorge "Machine Gun" Kelly (1895–1954), American gangsterGeorge Kelly (musician), AmericanGeorge Kelly (psychologist) (1905–1967), American psychologistGeorge Kelly (playwright), American playwright and uncle of Princess GraceGerry Kelly (broadcaster), Ulster Television presenterGerry Kelly, Sinn Féin politicianGrace Kelly (1929–1982), American film actress, Princess of MonacoGraham Kelly (football) (born c. 1945), English football administrator, formerly of The Football Association and The Football LeagueGuy E. Kelly, American politicianHarry Kelly (politician) (1895–1971), Governor of MichiganHelen Kelly (trade unionist) (1964–2016), New Zealand trade unionistHenry Kelly (born 1946), Irish television presenterHenry Kelly (VC), Irish Victoria Cross recipientHugh Kelly (poet) (1739–1777), Irish dramatist and poetHughie Kelly (1923–2009), Scottish international footballerHugh Kelly (goalkeeper) (1919–1977), Northern Irish international footballerHugh Craine Kelly (1848–1891), farmer and MHA in South AustraliaJack Kelly (actor), American actorJackie Kelly (born 1964), Australian politicianJames Kelly (Irish captain) (1929–2003), Irish army officerJames Kelly (U.S. representative) (1760–1819), U.S. politicianJames A. Kelly, U.S. politicianJames Butler Knill Kelly (1832–1907), Scottish-born Canadian Anglican bishop, later Primus of the Scottish Episcopal ChurchJames K. Kelly, American senatorJames M. Kelly (astronaut) (born 1964), American astronautJames M. Kelly (Maryland politician) (born 1960), AmericanJames Patrick Kelly, American science fiction authorJames Plunkett Kelly (1920–2003), Irish writer, author of Strumpet CityJane Louise Kelly, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth CircuitJanis Kelly (born 1971), Canadian volleyball playerJean-Baptiste Kelly (1783–1854), Canadian vicar-generalJean Louisa Kelly (born 1972), American actressJill Kelly (actress) (born 1971), American pornographic actressJim "Spider" Kelly (1912–?), Northern Irish boxer of the 1920s, '30s and '40sJim Kelly (born 1960), American football quarterbackJimmy Kelly (American football), NFL playerJo Ann Kelly (1944–1990), English blues singer and guitaristJoanne Kelly (born 1980), Canadian actressJoe Kelly (disambiguation), several peopleJoseph Kelly (disambiguation), several peopleJohn Kelly (architect) (1840 – 1904)John Robert Kelly (1849–1919), politician in South Australia, farmer in SA then Queensland.Joe Kelly (racing driver), Formula 1 driver in the 1950 & 1951 British Grand Prix.John B. Kelly Sr., Olympic medaling rower; father of Grace Kelly and John B. Kelly Jr.John B. Kelly Jr., aka Jack Kelly, Olympic medaling rower, politician, president of the US Olympic CommitteeJohn Larry Kelly, Jr, Bell Labs scientist who formulated the Kelly criterionJohn Melville Kelly (1877–1962), American artistJohn Norman Davidson Kelly (1909–1997), theologian and principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford UniversityJohnny Kelly (born 1968), American musicianKaren Kelly Irish camogie playerKate Kelly (disambiguation)Katherine Kelly (actress), English actress, best known as Becky McDonald in Coronation StreetKathy Kelly, pacifistKelly Kelly, ring name of American professional wrestler Barbara Blank (born 1987)Ken Kelly (disambiguation)Kevin Kelly (editor), Executive editor of WiredKevin T. Kelly (born 1960), American Postmodern Pop ArtistKieran Kelly (disambiguation)King Kelly (1857–1894), American baseball playerKlesie Kelly, American sopranoLeonard "Red" Kelly (born 1927), Canadian hockey player and politicianLisa Kelly (born 1977), Irish singer (Celtic Woman soloist)Lisa Kelly (Ice Road Trucker), television personalityLisa Robin Kelly (1975–2013), American actressLorraine Kelly, Scottish television presenterLuke Kelly (1940–1984), Irish singer and folk musicianLuke Kelly (rugby league) (born 1989), Australian rugby league playerLynne Kelly (science writer) (born 1951), Australian writerMaeve Kelly (born 1930), Irish writerMarcia Kelly (born 1970), convicted American murdererMark Kelly (disambiguation), several peopleMartin Kelly, English footballer, currently playing for Crystal PalaceMary Kelly (artist) (born 1941), American artist and writerMary Jane Kelly (c. 1863 – 1888), British prostitute and victim of Jack the RipperMatthew Kelly (born 1950), British television presenterMatthew Kelly (musician), American rock musicianMegyn Kelly (born 1970), American newscasterMelissa R. Kelly (born 1962), Maryland (USA) politicianMichael Kelly (physicist), New Zealand-British physicistMichael Kelly (tenor) (1762–1826), Irish actor, singer and composerMichael Kelly (bishop), fourth Roman Catholic Archbishop of SydneyMichael Kelly (sport shooter) (born 1872), American Olympic sport shooterMichael Kelly (editor), American writer and editorMichael Kelly (Lord Provost), former Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow and businessmanMichael Kelly (American actor), American actor featured in Dawn of the Dead (2004)Michael Eugene Kelly, automotive manufacturing entrepreneur and investment holding businessmanMike Kelly (journalist), contemporary American journalistMike Kelly (footballer, born 1942) (born 1942), English football goalkeeper and goalkeeping coachMike Kelly (outfielder) (born 1970), baseball outfielderMike Kelly (Australian politician), contemporary Australian politicianMinka Kelly, American actressMoira Kelly, American actressNancy Kelly (1921–1995), American actressNatália Kelly (born 1994), Austrian singerNed Kelly (c. 1854 – 1880), Australian outlawNeil Kelly, British rugby league footballer and coachNoel Kelly (disambiguation), several peoplePat Kelly (trade unionist) (1929–2004), New Zealand trade unionistPatrick Kelly (disambiguation)Paul Kelly (journalist), AustralianPaul Kelly (musician) (born 1955), Australian singer and songwriterPaul Kelly (footballer), AustralianPetra Kelly (1947–1992), co-founder of German Green PartyRichard Kelly (director) (born 1975), AmericanRichard Kelly (politician) (1924–2005), AmericanRick Kelly (born 1983), Australian racing driverRobert Kelly (poet) (born 1935), American poetRobert Kelly (politician) (1845–1920), MHA of South AustraliaRobert Sylvester Kelly (born 1967), American singer-songwriter and record producer better known by his stage name R. KellyRuth Kelly (born 1968), British politicianRyan Kelly (disambiguation)Scott Kelly (disambiguation), several peopleSean Kelly (cyclist) (born 1956), IrishStuart Kelly (rugby league) (born 1976), Australian rugby league playerStuart Kelly (footballer) (born 1981), Scottish footballerStuart Kelly (literary critic), Scottish critic and authorSue W. Kelly (born 1936), American politicianT. C. Kelly (1917–1985), Irish composerThe Kelly Family, European-American musiciansThomas Kelly (cricketer)Thomas Kelly (Medal of Honor), American Medal of Honor recipientThomas C. Kelly, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville, KentuckyThomas Forrest Kelly (born 1943), American musicologistThomas J. Kelly (Irish nationalist)Thomas J. Kelly (Medal of Honor), American Medal of Honor recipientThomas R. Kelly, Quaker mysticTodd Kelly (born 1979), Australian racing driverTom Kelly (baseball) (born 1950), manager of the American baseball team the Minnesota TwinsTom Kelly (engineer) (1932–2004), American aerospace engineerTom Kelly (Gaelic football), footballerTom Kelly (Ireland), media commentator and member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern IrelandTom Kelly (musician), American songwriterTommy Kelly (actor) (1925–2016), American child actorTy Kelly (born 1988), American baseball playerVan Kelly, baseball playerWalt Kelly (1913–1973), American cartoonistWalter F. Kelly (1874–1961), American college sports coachWilliam Kelly (inventor) (1811–1888), AmericanWilliam Kelly (senator) (1786–1834), AmericanWilliam Kelly (Guernsey and Blackheath), member of the Plymouth BrethrenWilliam Osmund Kelly, Flint, Michigan Mayor, 1940–44William W. J. Kelly, Lieutenant Governor of Florida, 1865–68Wynton Kelly (1931–1971), Jamaican-born jazz pianistAlbéric O'Kelly de Galway (1911–1980), Belgian chess grandmasterAloysius O'Kelly (1853–1936), Irish painter, brother of James Joseph O'KellyChristopher O'Kelly (1895–1922), Canadian recipient of the Victoria CrossDon O'Kelly (1924–1966), American actorGabriel O'Kelly (died 1731), Bishop of Elphin from 1718 to 1731James Joseph O'Kelly (1845–1916), Irish politicianJohn J. O'Kelly (1872–1957), Irish politicianJoseph O'Kelly (1828–1885), Franco-Irish composer, and his brothers Auguste (1829–1900) and George (1831–1914)Malcolm O'Kelly (born 1974), Irish rugby playerSeán T. O'Kelly (1882–1966), second President of IrelandSeumas O'Kelly (1881–1918), Irish writerAbby Kelley (1811–1887), Quaker abolitionist and social reformer; mentor of Susan B. AnthonyAlton Kelley an American artistAnn Kelley, British writerAugustine B. Kelley (1883–1957), US Congressman from PennsylvaniaBrian Kelley (disambiguation), several peopleCharles Kelley, musicianClarence M. Kelley (1911–1977)David Kelley (born 1949), American objectivist philosopherDavid E. Kelley (born 1956), American television writer and producerDean M. Kelley (1927–1977), American author and religious freedom advocateDeForest Kelley (1920–1999), actor, famous for Star TrekDevin Kelley (born 1986), American actressEdward Kelley (1555–1597), alchemist and spirit medium, possible creator of EnochianFlorence Kelley (1859–1932), social/consumer safety/civil rights activistFrancis Kelley (1870–1948), American Roman Catholic BishopGeoffrey Kelley (born 1955), Canadian politicianHarold Kelley, psychologistHarold Kelley (rugby league), Australian rugby league footballerHomer Kelley (1907–1983), American golf instructorIke Kelley (born 1944), American football playerHonora Kelley (1857–1938), American female serial killerJack Kelley (journalist), disgraced American journalistJacquelyn Kelley (1926–1988), All-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueJames H. "Dog" Kelley (1833–1912), mayor of Dodge City, Kansas, from 1877 to 1881Jill Kelley (born 1975), American socialite and volunteer military liaison; connected with 2012 scandals involving Generals David Petraeus and John R. Allen, as well as the FBIJoseph James Kelley (1871–1943), American baseball playerJohn L. Kelley (1916–1999), mathematicianJohnny Kelley (1907–2004), American long-distance runnerJosh Kelley, singer/songwriterKen Kelley (born 1960), American football playerKevin Kelley (boxer)Kevin Daniel Kelley, American drummer with The ByrdsKitty Kelley (born 1942), American journalist and authorLee Charles Kelley (born 1951), American mystery novelist and dog trainerMike Kelley (artist) (1954–2012), American artistMike Kelley (baseball) (1875–1955), American baseball player and manager in the minor leaguesMike Kelley (American football), American football quarterback for San Diego ChargersMikey Kelley (born 1973), American voice actorOliver Hudson Kelley (1826–1913)Paul X. Kelley (born 1928), 28th Commandant of the U.S. Marine CorpsPeter Kelley (born 1974), American weightlifterRobert Kelley (born 1992), American football running backSheila Kelley (American actress) Actress, founder of S-Factor, granddaughter of senator Augustine B. KelleyThomas Kelley (author)Vince Kelley (born 1962), American/Australian basketball playerWilliam "Pig-Iron" Kelley (1814–1890), Quaker abolitionist, US Congressman from Pennsylvania
