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Irish surname

Kelleher: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Céileachair · 'descendant of Céileachar' (companion-dear, spouse-loving)

Woulfe (1923) gives Kelleher as Ó Céileachair, 'descendant of Céileachar', the name of a well-known family in Cork and Kerry of Dalcassian origin, descended from Donnchuan, brother of Brian Boru. In the 1890 birth indexes there were 148 Kelleher entries, 92 of them in Cork and 23 in Kerry.

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Coat of arms associated with the Kelleher surname
Irish formÓ Céileachair
Meaning'descendant of Céileachar' (companion-dear, spouse-loving)
CountiesCork, Kerry
Other spellings3

Origin of the Kelleher name

Ó Céileachair: 'the name of a well-known family in Cork and Kerry'. Woulfe says they are of Dalcassian origin, 'being descended from Donnchuan, brother of Brian Boru'.[1]

  1. 1890148 Kelleher births registered, 92 in Cork and 23 in Kerry.[2]

Where in Ireland

Co. CorkHome of the family (Woulfe); 92 of the 148 Kelleher entries in 1890.[1][2][3]
Co. KerryHome of the family (Woulfe); 23 Kelleher entries in 1890.[1][2]

Other spellings

O'Kelliher · Kelliher · Kellegher[1]

The Kelleher coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Kelleher surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Kelleher crest gifts

Clan Okelleher Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap KK55 Okelleher Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Okelleher Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Okelleher Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapLU10 Classic Cap - Okelleher Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Okelleher Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Kelleher Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapVJ16 Classic Cap - Kelleher Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Kelleher Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Kelleher Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap WJ39 Kelleher Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Kelleher Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Kelleher surname: questions

Is Kelleher an Irish name?

Yes. Woulfe gives it as Ó Céileachair, the name of a well-known family in Cork and Kerry, of Dalcassian origin.[1]

What does the surname Kelleher mean?

'Descendant of Céileachar'; Woulfe glosses Céileachar as 'companion-dear, spouse-loving'.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Kelleher name from?

Cork and Kerry. In 1890, 92 of the 148 Kelleher birth entries were in Cork and 23 in Kerry; 124 of the 148 were in Munster.[1][2]

Is Kelleher related to Brian Boru?

Woulfe says the family is of Dalcassian origin, descended from Donnchuan, brother of Brian Boru.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Céileachair — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-ceileachair.php
  2. Kelleher — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/kelleher.php
  3. Registration Province of Munster (leading surnames by county, Births Index 1890) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/munster-names.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).