Kelce History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Kelce

What does the name Kelce mean?

The origins of the Kelce name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in either North Kelsey or South Kelsey in the county of Lincolnshire. Both parishes date back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when they were recorded as Northchelesi and Chelsi, respectively. 1 South Kelsey was established in 1262 and was known at that time as Suthkelleseye. It is thought that the place-name means "island, or dry ground in marsh, of a man called Ceol." 2 3

Early Origins of the Kelce family

The surname Kelce was first found in Lincolnshire where one of the first records of the name was Brise de Keleseye who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. Peter de Keleseve was listed in the same rolls at the same time. 4

It is in this shire that North and South Kelsey are still found today. Over the many years, North Kelsey has remained a small village and civil parish with a population of 959 in 2001 and this includes the small hamlet of North Kelsey Moor. Today, South Kelsey is still smaller village with a population of 571 in 2001. 5

One source claims the name is from Kelsale in Suffolk, 6 but most sources believe the name to be from Lincolnshire. William de Kelesey was listed in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1284 and later Robert Kelsey was listed in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1394. 7

"The Kelseys bear an old Kent name. The ancient Kelseys possessed Kelsey, Beckenham, in the 13th and 14th centuries. In 1659 Colonel Kelsey represented Dover in Parliament, and was lieutenant of Dover Castle. A hundred years since, there were Kelseys in Hawking parish. " 8

Early History of the Kelce family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kelce research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1550, 1552, 1574, 1645, 1646, 1651, 1667, 1680, 1724 and 1795 are included under the topic Early Kelce History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kelce Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Kelce were recorded, including Kelsey, Kelsy and others.

Early Notables of the Kelce family

Distinguished members of the family include Brice Kelsey of Lincolnshire; Henry Kelsey (c.1667-1724), "the Boy Kelsey", who was an English fur trader, explorer, and sailor who played an important role in establishing the Hudson's Bay Company.Thomas Kelsey (died c. 1680) became an important figure in the government of Oliver Cromwell. Kelsey enlisted in the New Model Army and fought on the side of Parliament during the English Civil War, displaying a zeal...
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kelce Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kelce migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Kelce family emigrate to North America:

Kelce Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Inda Kelce, aged 21, Russian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Tyrrhenia" in 1923 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Kelce (post 1700) +

Travis Michael Kelce (b. 1989), American NFL football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, winner of Super Bowls LIV and LVII, brother of Jason Kelse; both brothers played on opposing sides in Super Bowl LVII
Jason Daniel Kelce (b. 1987), American NFL football center for the Philadelphia Eagles, a Super Bowl champion, six-time Pro Bowl selection, and five-time first-team All-Pro selection, brother of Travis Kelce
Robert D. Kelce, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1960 10
Patricia D. Kelce, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1964 10

Sources +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html