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Kelby Family History

Kelby Surname Meaning

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.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kelby family from?

You can see how Kelby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kelby family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kelby families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 60 Kelby families living in Ontario. This was about 64% of all the recorded Kelby's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Kelby families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kelby surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Kelby ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kelby. 29% of Kelby men worked as a Laborer and 15% of Kelby women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kelby were Truck Driver and Housewife.

View Census Data for Kelby | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    29%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Clerk
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    15%
  • Stenographer
    10%
  • Maid
    8%
  • Housewife
    8%

What Kelby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Kelby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kelby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Kelby

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Kelby. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kelby immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 670 military records available for the last name Kelby. For the veterans among your Kelby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kelby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kelby family history

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What is the average Kelby lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2004, in the United States, Kelby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 1970. The average life expectancy for Kelby in 1965 was 80, and 88 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kelby

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kelby ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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