Explore the Family Name Kells
The meaning of Kells
1. Scottish and Irish: from a personal name based on Old Norse ketill ‘sacrificial cauldron, helmet’, with post-medieval excrescent English -s. In Scotland, it may also be of topographic origin, from a place called as ‘the cauldron’. 2. English: variant of Kell, with post-medieval excrescent -s.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kells in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Kells has gained popularity over time in the United States. In 2000, the name ranked at 19,813 but by 2010, it had moved up to rank 16,238, showing an increase of 18.04%. The number of people carrying the Kells surname also experienced a significant rise during this period. The count went from 1,256 in 2000 to 1,778 in 2010, marking a 41.56% increase. Furthermore, the proportion of individuals with the last name Kells per 100k people increased from 0.47 to 0.6, a jump of 27.66%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,813 | #16,238 | 18.04% |
| Count | 1,256 | 1,778 | 41.56% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.47 | 0.6 | 27.66% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kells
The ethnicity distribution for the surname Kells has varied between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, a vast majority (90.92%) identified as White, while by 2010, this percentage decreased slightly to 80.88%. The presence of Hispanic ethnicity among those with the surname Kells saw a remarkable increase from 1.43% in 2000 to 6.36% in 2010. The Black ethnicity representation also experienced growth, rising from 5.73% in 2000 to 7.76% in 2010. Although initially non-existent in 2000, by 2010, the Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicities were represented among individuals with the Kells surname at 2.42% and 0.67%, respectively. Lastly, there was a moderate increase in the proportion of Kells identifying with two or more races, from 1.27% in 2000 to 1.91% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 90.92% | 80.88% | -11.04% |
| Black | 5.73% | 7.76% | 35.43% |
| Hispanic | 1.43% | 6.36% | 344.76% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 2.42% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.27% | 1.91% | 50.39% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.67% | 0% |