Kelley

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family name of Irish origin, borne by many people across English-speaking countries
2. An Irish-derived surname shared by numerous individuals in the United States, Britain and elsewhere
3. A common hereditary family name of Gaelic origin, passed down through generations of bearers

Etymology: The spelling "kelley" is a variant of the surname Kelly, which comes from the Irish Gaelic "Ó Ceallaigh," a family name built on the personal name "Ceallach." That name is usually linked to "ceall," meaning "church," or to a root meaning "strife" or "bright-headed," and scholars do not agree on which. The surname spread widely in Ireland and, after emigration, across the English-speaking world, and American families often wrote it with the double "e." As a common noun, the spelling mostly appears as a family name or in a few trade and place-name uses, so the surname is the strongest sense to explain. The origin of the Gaelic name itself is uncertain, and the church and strife explanations are both still debated.