I have a book on The Clans and Families of Ireland. Here is what it says about Kelley's Kelly comes from the Irish O'Ceallaigh, based on the popular personal name Ceallach, which may mean either 'bright-haired' or troublesome'. The popularity of the name meant that it was incorporated into permanent surnames in between seven and ten different places, including County Meath, north Wicklow, the Antrim/Derry area, County Sligo, Galway/Roscommon, north Down and County Laois. The most prominent of these families are the O'Kellys of Ui Maine, or Hy Many, an ancient territory taking in east Galway and south Roscommon, also known simply as "O'Kelly's Country". Their pedigree takes them back to Maine Mor, first chief of the area bearing his name, who lived in the fifth century. His descendant Ceallach (died c874) was the twelfth chief, and it is from him that the surname derives. His great-great-grandson Tadhg Mor, who died at the battle of Clontarf in 1014, was the first to use the name in true hereditary fashion. Despite the loss of most of their possessions in the catastrophic wars of the seventeenth century, a loss shared with most of the rest of the Gaelic aristocracy, the succession to the position of head of the sept has continued unbroken down to the present incumbent, Walter Lionel O'Kelly of Gallagh and Tycooly, count of the Holy Roman Empire, known as the "O'Kelly", and recognized as such by the Chief Herald of Ireland. Today, Kelly and O'Kelly are almost as numerous in Ireland as Murphy, and are to be found throughout Ireland. Individuals of the name have been prominent in all speres of Irish life. The best known modern Irish sculptor was Oisin Lelly (1915-1981), Charles E Kelly (1902-1981) was one of the founders of Dublin Opinion, the most famous satirical magazine to appear in Ireland, and James O'Kelly (1845-1916) had a remarkable career as a war correspondent and Member of Parliament. Source: Book; Clans and Families of Ireland (The Heritage and Heraldry of Irish Clans and Families) By: John Grenham Published by: The Wellfleet Press, 110 Enterprise Ave., Secaucus, New Jersey, 07094 Copy right: 1993 by CLB Publishing Ltd., Godaiming, Surrey, England Here is a link to a site I use for locations in Ireland. But since Kelly's are widespread...