Irish surname
Descendant of Ceallach
Clan or community name
Kelly (Ó Ceallaigh) means 'descendant of Ceallach', a personal name that may mean 'bright-headed' or 'frequenter of churches'. Multiple distinct septs bore the name, the most important being the O’Kellys of Uí Maine in east Galway and the O’Kellys of Breifne.
Kelly is one of the most common Irish surnames and is found throughout Ireland and the diaspora. The name was often anglicized without the 'O' prefix. In some cases Kelly may also derive from the Scottish Gaelic Mac Ceallaigh.
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Descendant of Ceallach. Ceallach is an old Irish given name whose root meaning is debated, variously glossed as "bright-headed" or related to strife/war.
Kelly is a Irish-origin surname. Popularity varies widely by country and region, and the same surname can be common in one place and rare in another.
Yes. Surnames, especially occupational and descriptive ones like this, were often adopted independently by many unrelated families who happened to share a trade, appearance, or location.
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