Kelly or O'Kelly is a surname of Irish origin. It derives from the Kings of Uí Maine. The name is a partially anglicised version of older Irish names and has numerous origins, most notably from the Ui Maine. 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.
Etymology In many cases Kelly is an anglicisation of the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh (), which means "descendant of Ceallach", but it can also mean warrior or fighter. The personal name Ceallach has been thought to mean "bright-headed", but the current understanding is that the name means "frequenting churches", derived from the Irish ., which cited: , for the surnames "Kelly". In other cases the surname Kelly is an Anglicisation of the Irish Ó Cadhla, which means "descendant of Cadhla". which is a transcription of: The O'Kelly or Kelly of the Clan Brasil Mac Coolechan originated as a chieftain clan of the Ulaid.John O'Hart, Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, 5th edition, in two volumes, originally published in Dublin in 1892, reprinted, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976, Vol. 1, p. 820
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 , meaning "wood" or "grove"..
Prevalence The surname is one of the most common in Ireland. It is also very common in Galloway, and the Isle of Man. Many Irish immigrated to Galloway before and during the Irish famine. When including all of its variations, the name O'Kelly, Kelly, Kelley, Kellie and the Gaelic form Ó Ceallaigh, makes it the most prevalent surname in Ireland. There are approximately half a million people worldwide who bear this name. 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 Isle of Man, Cornwall and probably in Antrim, the name Kelly arose from Celli, meaning man of the woods.
People with the surname
A–I Alan Kelly (disambiguation), several people Alexandra Filia Kelly, English businesswoman Amanda Kelly (born 1982), Scottish kickboxer Amethyst Kelly (born 1990), Australian rapper known as Iggy Azalea Archie Kelly (1921–2005), Scottish footballer Arthur Kelly (disambiguation), several people Arvesta Kelly (born 1945), American basketball player Austin Kelly (born 1989), American basketball coach Autumn Kelly (born 1978), wife of Peter Phillips, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II Barbara Kelly (1924–2007), Canadian-born English actress Barbara L. Kelly (born 1966), Scottish-Irish musicologist Benedictus Marwood Kelly (1785–1867), British naval officer Bernadette Kelly (born 1964), British civil servant Bernard Kelly (disambiguation), several people Bernie Kelly (disambiguation), several people Brian Kelly (disambiguation), several people Brigid Kelly (1983–2024), American politician Brigit Pegeen Kelly (1951–2016), American poet Bryan Kelly (1934–2026), English composer Caden Kelly (born 2003), Irish association footballer Carson Kelly (born 1994), American baseball player Cassandra Kelly, company director from Australia Cassandra Kelly (athlete) (born 1963), athlete from New Zealand Chad Kelly (born 1994), American football player Charles Kelly (disambiguation), several people Charlie Kelly (disambiguation), multiple people Chip Kelly (born 1963), American football coach Chris Kelly (1978–2013), American hip hop artist; half of the duo Kris Kross Claire Kelly (1934–1998), American actress Clare Kelly (1922–2001), English actress Colin Kelly (1915–1941), World War II ace pilot Colin Kelly (American football) (born 1989), American football player Craig Kelly (actor) (born 1970), British actor Craig Kelly (politician) (born 1963), Australian politician Dan Kelly (bushranger), Australian bushranger, member of the Kelly family Darren Kelly (born 1978), Northern Irish footballer Dave Kelly (disambiguation) David Kelly (disambiguation) David Patrick Kelly (born 1951), American actor, musician, and lyricist Dean Lennox Kelly (born 1975), British actor De-Anne Kelly (born 1954), Australian politician Deja Kelly (born 2001), American basketball player Derrick Kelly II (born 1995), American football player Des Kelly (born 1965), British journalist Diane Kelly, British microbiologist Don Kelly (baseball) (born 1980), American professional baseball player Donal Kelly (1938–2025), Irish journalist and broadcaster Eamon Kelly (actor) (1914–2001), Irish actor and author Edmond Kelly (1874–1955), WWI Chaplain and Irish Parish Priest in County Tipperary, member of the Kelly family Edmund Kelly (disambiguation) Edna F. Kelly (1906–1997), American politician Edward Kelly (disambiguation) Elizabeth Kelly (1921–2025), English actress Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015), American painter and sculptor Elsa Kelly (born 1939), Argentine lawyer and diplomat Elsie Kelly (1936–2026), English actress Emma Kelly (1918–2001), American musician Emmett Kelly (1898–1979), American circus performer Eric P. Kelly (1884–1960), American author Erin Kelly (disambiguation), several people Ethel Knight Kelly (1875–1949), Canadian–Australian actress and writer Eugene Kelly (born 1965), Scottish musician Everett Kelly (politician) (1926–2018), American politician from Florida Fitzroy Kelly (1796–1880), British judge Florence Finch Kelly (1858–1939), American journalist and novelist Fran Kelly, Australian radio journalist Francis Kelly (Canadian politician) (1803–1879) Francis Kelly (Medal of Honor) (1860–1938), American sailor Frank Kelly (disambiguation) Frederick Kelly (disambiguation) Gabriella Cázares-Kelly (born 1982), Tohono Oʼodham and American educator, community organizer, and politician Gabrielle Kelly, Irish statistician Gene Kelly (1912–1996), American actor George Kelly (baseball) (1895–1984), American baseball player George "Machine Gun" Kelly (1895–1954), American gangster George Kelly (disambiguation), several peole Gerry Kelly (broadcaster) (born 1948), Northern Irish television presenter Gerry Kelly, Sinn Féin politician Grace Kelly (1929–1982), American film actress, Princess of Monaco Graham Kelly (disambiguation), several people Guillermo Patricio Kelly (1921–2005), Argentine politician and activist Guy E. Kelly, American politician Gwen Kelly (1922–2012), Australian novelist and short-story writer Harry Kelly (politician) (1895–1971), Governor of Michigan Helen Kelly (trade unionist) (1964–2016), New Zealand trade unionist Henry Kelly (disambiguation), several people, including Henry Kelly (1946–2025), Irish television presenter Hugh Kelly (poet) (1739–1777), Irish dramatist and poet Hughie Kelly (1923–2009), Scottish international footballer Hugh Kelly (goalkeeper) (1919–1977), Northern Irish international footballer Hugh Craine Kelly (1848–1891), farmer and MHA in South Australia
J–M Jack Kelly (actor) (1927–1992), American actor Jackie Kelly (born 1964), Australian politician James Kelly (basketball) (born 1993), American basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League James Kelly (Irish Army officer) (1929–2003), Irish army officer James Kelly (congressman) (1760–1819), U.S. politician James A. Kelly (born 1936), U.S. politician James Butler Knill Kelly (1832–1907), Scottish-born Canadian Anglican bishop, later Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church James K. Kelly (1819–1903), American senator James M. Kelly (astronaut) (born 1964), American astronaut James M. Kelly (Boston politician) (1940–2007), American politician, former president of the Boston City Council. James M. Kelly (Maryland politician) (born 1960), American James Patrick Kelly (born 1951), American science fiction author James Plunkett Kelly (1920–2003), Irish writer, author of Strumpet City Jane Louise Kelly, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Janis Kelly (volleyball) (born 1971), Canadian volleyball player Janis Kelly (soprano), Scottish operatic soprano Jean-Baptiste Kelly (1783–1854), Canadian vicar-general Jean Louisa Kelly (born 1972), American actress Jeremiah Kelly (1900–1962), Scottish footballer Jermaine Kelly (born 1995), American football player Jill Kelly (actress) (born 1971), American pornographic actress Jim "Spider" Kelly (1912–?), Northern Irish boxer of the 1920s, '30s and '40s Jim Kelly (born 1960), American football quarterback Jimmy Kelly (American football), NFL player Jo Ann Kelly (1944–1990), English blues singer and guitarist Joanne Kelly (born 1980), Canadian actress Joe Kelly (disambiguation), several people John Kelly (architect) (1840–1904) John William Kelly (academic) (born 1955), Vice President Clemson University and President Florida Atlantic University John Kelly (coal merchant) (1840–1904), John Kelly Limited shipowner and coal merchant John Kelly (running back) (born 1996), American football player 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 Committee John F. Kelly (born 1950), U.S. Marine Corps general, Trump administration chief of staff John J. Kelly, Medal of Honor recipient John Larry Kelly Jr., Bell Labs scientist who formulated the Kelly criterion John Melville Kelly (1877–1962), American artist John Norman Davidson Kelly (1909–1997), theologian and principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford University Johnny Kelly (born 1968), American musician Joseph Michael Kelly (born 1956), American architect, engineer and merchant mariner Joseph Kelly (disambiguation), multiple people Josephine Gates Kelly (1888–1976), Native American activist and politician Josh Kelly (disambiguation), multiple people Kathryn Kelly (born 1988), American track and field athlete Kameron Kelly (born 1996), American football player Kemesha Kelly (born 1989), Jamaican beauty pageant winner and activist Karen Kelly Irish camogie player Kate Kelly (disambiguation) Katherine Kelly (actress), English actress, best known as Becky McDonald in Coronation Street Kathy Kelly, pacifist Keith Kelly (singer) (born 1935), English pop singer, guitarist and songwriter Kelly Kelly, ring name of American professional wrestler Barbara Blank (born 1987) Kelly O'Rourke, local grocer Ken Kelly (disambiguation) Kevin Kelly (disambiguation) Kevin T. Kelly (born 1960), American Postmodern Pop Artist Kieran Kelly (disambiguation) King Kelly (1857–1894), American baseball player Klesie Kelly, American soprano Kyu Blu Kelly (born 2000), American football player Laura Kelly (born 1950), American politician Leonard "Red" Kelly (1927–2019), Canadian hockey player and politician Liam Kelly (Irish republican), (1922–2011), paramilitary leader and elected official Lisa Kelly (singer) (born 1977), Irish singer (Celtic Woman soloist) Lisa Kelly (trucker) (born 1980), American television personality Lisa Robin Kelly (1975–2013), American actress Lorraine Kelly, Scottish television presenter Luke Kelly (1940–1984), Irish singer and folk musician Luke Kelly (rugby league) (born 1989), Australian rugby league player Lynne Kelly (science writer) (born 1951), Australian writer Maeve Kelly (1930–2025), Irish writer Makenna Kelly (born 2005), American social media influencer Manus Kelly, Irish businessman and rally driver Marie-Noële Kelly (1901–1995), Belgian-born hostess and traveller Mark Kelly (disambiguation), several people Martin Kelly (disambiguation), several people Martin Kelly (footballer), English footballer, currently playing for Crystal Palace