Kelett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Kelett

What does the name Kelett mean?

The ancestry of the name Kelett dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in the settlement of Kellet in Lancashire, or in the place named Kelleth in Westmorland (now part of Cumbria). The surname Kelett belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Kelett family

The surname Kelett was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Kellett, from very ancient times. Conjecturally they are descended from an Anglo-Saxon noble who occupied the King's land of Chellet, later Kellet, later Nether Kellet. It is now famous for its stalactite caves called the Dunald Mill Hole. Over Kellet, Lancashire appears as "Chellet of the Domesday Survey, and was an early a possession of a family named Kellet, whose heiress married Sir Thurstan de Holland." 1

Early History of the Kelett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kelett research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1550 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kelett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kelett Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Kelett have been found, including Kelett, Kellet, Kellett, Kelat, Kelatt, Kellatt and others.

Early Notables of the Kelett family

More information is included under the topic Early Kelett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kelett family to Ireland

Some of the Kelett family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kelett family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Kelett, or a variant listed above: Francis Kellet who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1768; John Kellett who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1839; followed by Richard Kellett in 1871..

Sources +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.