Surname Kellaway - Meaning and Origin
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Kellaway: What does the surname Kellaway mean?
The surname Kellaway is of Anglo-Saxon origin, specifically derived from the pre 7th Century Old English word "cealc-hlæw," which translates to "chalk mound or hillock." The "cealc" part of the name refers to chalk, while "hlæw" means a hill. This indicates that the original bearers of the name likely lived on or near a chalk hill. On the other hand, Kellaway may also be a geographical surname referring to the town of Callaway in Cornwall, England. Variations of the surname include Callaway, Kelleway, Kelway, Callway, and others. The name first appears in written historical records in Somerset, England around 1273. It is a relatively common surname in England, especially in the southwestern region. As with many surnames, Kellaway was likely used to identify different individuals with common first names in the same locality, and it likely referred to a unique characteristic of the family, such as their geographic location.
Order DNA origin analysisKellaway: Where does the name Kellaway come from?
The surname Kellaway has origins in Cornwall, located in southwestern England. Deriving from the Cornish language, "kel" means "slope," and "coed" implies "wood," leading some to believe it started as a topographical name for someone living by a wood on a hillside. However, others argue it might derive from "Celliwig," the legendary Arthurian castle. This surname has variable spellings including Callaway, Kelloway, Kelway, etc., reflecting the phonetic spelling systems used before standardized spelling became common.
The majority of individuals bearing the Kellaway surname today reside in England, and to a lesser extent, Australia. Although it is not a common surname, there might also be few bearers in the United States, Wales, Canada, Scotland, and New Zealand. The zenith of the name's popularity was in the 19th century, with a decline in the number of bearers since the 20th century. Despite this, Kellaway families often maintain strong ties to their ancestral regions, thus preserving the name’s historical prominence.
Variations of the surname Kellaway
The surname Kellaway is notably British in origin, derived from the name of the villages of Callaway or Calewe in Devon, England. As a result of various accents and evolution over time, different spellings and variants of the Kellaway surname have emerged. Some of these include Callaway, Calloway, Kelloway, Kellway, Kelway, and Callwey.
Furthermore, it's common to find slight variations in spellings due to regional dialects and phonetic spelling by early scribes. For instance, names that end in "way" were often changed to "wey" or "wie." Hence, you may come across other versions like Kellwey or Kellwie.
Sometimes, the ‘K’ may be replaced with a ‘C’, giving rise to surnames such as Celloway, Celleway, or even Calewey based on the original village name. Essentially, all these names share the same genealogical origin, tracing back to the same ancestral surname.
It's also worth noting that specific variants may be more common in certain regions than others due to historical local settlements and migration patterns. The different versions of this surname reflect the rich and varied history of the English language and the people who carried these names.
Famous people with the name Kellaway
- Hugo Kellaway: British businessman and former CEO.
- Jeremy Kellaway: British actor who has starred in several films and television series including Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and Casualty.
- Richard Kellaway: British actor who is best known for his roles in the films About a Boy, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
- John Kellaway: British film producer who has worked on a variety of feature films, television series and commercials.
- Gugu Mbatha Raw: British actress and model who is known for her work on Doctor Who, Touch, and Belle.
- Jack Kelaway: British director and editor who has worked on projects such as The Golden Compass, X-Men: The Last Stand and The Bourne Ultimatum.
- Steve Kellaway: British actor who has appeared in films such as Hot Fuzz, Atonement and The Dark Knight Rises.
- Tony Kellaway: British actor who is best known for his roles in Cold Feet, Doctor Who and Little Britain.
- Martin Kellaway: British composer who has worked on films such as In Bruges, The King's Speech and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
- Ronke Adekoluejo: British actress who has featured in titles such as Doctor Who, Holby City and The Woman in Black.