History of your Surname
Get access to Kelso family records.Start a free trial

Kelso Family History

Kelso Name Meaning

Scottish: habitational name from Kelso on the river Tweed in Roxburghshire so named from Old English calc ‘chalk’ + hōh ‘heel spur of land’.

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


Similar surnames: Kellow, Elson, Kello, Kelson, Keto, Kelty, Kelsoe, Bello, Mello

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Kelso family from?

You can see how Kelso families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kelso family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kelso families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 31 Kelso families living in Indiana. This was about 22% of all the recorded Kelso's in USA. Indiana had the highest population of Kelso families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kelso surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Kelso ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kelso. 18% of Kelso men worked as a Farmer and 10% of Kelso women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kelso were Carpenter and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Kelso | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    18%
  • Laborer
    15%
  • Salesman
    7%
  • Carpenter
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    10%
  • Teacher
    9%
  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • Clerk
    7%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Kelso family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 58,000 census records available for the last name Kelso. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kelso census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Kelso

Passenger Lists

There are 9,000 immigration records available for the last name Kelso. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kelso immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Kelso. For the veterans among your Kelso ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kelso military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kelso family history

Discover More

What is the average Kelso lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Kelso life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Kelso in 1941 was 66, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kelso

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kelso family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Kelso last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial