Explore the Family Name Kelson
The meaning of Kelson
1. English: habitational name from Kelston (Somerset), derived from an Old English personal name Calf (genitive Calfes) or from Old English calf ‘calf’ (genitive calfes) + tūn ‘farmstead, estate’. Alternatively, perhaps sometimes a habitational name from Kelstern (Lincolnshire), derived from the Old English personal name Cægel + Old English thorn ‘thorn tree’. 2. Americanized form of Norwegian and Danish Kjeldsen. 3. Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): metronymic from the Yiddish female personal name Keyle, of uncertain origin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kelson in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Kelson has seen a slight increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 14,550th most popular surname, which increased marginally to the 14,478th spot by 2010 - an improvement of 0.49%. The count of individuals bearing the surname also grew by 9.8% during this period, rising from 1,878 to 2,062. However, the proportion of individuals named Kelson per 100,000 people remained static at 0.7.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,550 | #14,478 | 0.49% |
| Count | 1,878 | 2,062 | 9.8% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kelson
When it comes to ethnic identity, the surname Kelson is predominantly associated with White and Black populations according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. Those identifying as White made up 64.96% in 2000, which slightly decreased to 61.25% in 2010. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as Black increased from 30.88% in 2000 to 32.10% in 2010. There was also a significant rise in the percentage of individuals with the Kelson surname who identify with two or more races - increasing by 91.18% from 1.70% to 3.25% within the decade. By contrast, the Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaskan Native populations were relatively small, but saw some growth. Hispanic identification also increased from 1.33% to 1.94% over the ten years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 64.96% | 61.25% | -5.71% |
| Black | 30.88% | 32.1% | 3.95% |
| Two or More Races | 1.7% | 3.25% | 91.18% |
| Hispanic | 1.33% | 1.94% | 45.86% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.02% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.44% | 0% |