The Kelly Surname
- Meaning
- descendant of Ceallach
- Type
- Patronymic
- Root
- Irish Ó Ceallaigh
- Chiefly
- Galway, Roscommon and Meath
Ceallach is an old personal name, variously read as ‘bright-headed’ or ‘strife’ — the second is contested and we would not insist on it. At least seven distinct septs used the name.
It is the second commonest surname in Ireland, and the multiplicity of origins is the reason.
Bestow the name a title it never had
An honorific Lord or Lady certificate in the Kelly name, hand-finished and sealed, with a square metre of Scottish woodland dedicated alongside it. A novelty, magnificently done — and a good deal more fun than a family tree.
Choose a Package The Peerage Chart