Explore the Family Name Kelby
The meaning of Kelby
English (mainly Lincolnshire and Yorkshire): habitational name from Keelby (Lincolnshire). The placename derives from Old Norse kjǫlr ‘keel, ridge’ + bȳ ‘farmstead, village’. There may have been some confusion with Kilby.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kelby in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Kelby decreased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 98,770th, but by 2010, it had fallen to 126,765th - a drop of 28.34%. Similarly, the count also declined over this period, going from 170 in 2000 to 135 in 2010, reflecting a negative change of 20.59%. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw a decrease of 16.67%, from 0.06 to 0.05.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #98,770 | #126,765 | -28.34% |
| Count | 170 | 135 | -20.59% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.06 | 0.05 | -16.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kelby
Regarding ethnicity, data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that people with the Kelby surname were predominantly white in both 2000 and 2010, with a slight increase from 76.47% to 80.74%. The number of individuals who identify as Black decreased during the same timeframe, from 19.41% to 17.04%. No changes were observed for people identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, those from two or more races, Hispanic, or American Indian and Alaskan Native. It is important to note that these figures represent the overall ethnic identity trends within the population carrying the Kelby surname and do not indicate any individual's specific ethnic identity.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.47% | 80.74% | 5.58% |
| Black | 19.41% | 17.04% | -12.21% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |