Kelsey /ˈkɛlsi/^[1] is an English surname and originated from an Old English place name in Lincolnshire, England. The place name is derived from words meaning "Ceol's island" (Mills 1991). In modern times Kelsey has also become a given name for boys and girls in English-speaking countries. Kelsey comes from "island of the ships" in Irish and Scots, and "a dweller on the island, by the water" from Norwegian.

Kelsey may refer to:

Actors

• Edward Kelsey (1930–2019), English actor
• Greg Kelsey (1893–1967), stage name of British-born actor William Gregory Kelsall
• Ian Kelsey (born 1966), British television actor
• Linda Kelsey (born 1946), American television actress

Athletes

• Arthur Kelsey (1871–1955), English footballer
• Jack Kelsey (1929–1992), Welsh football goalkeeper
• Lloyd Kelsey (1897–1948), American tug-of-war competitor

Politicians and public servants

• Charles Kelsey (New York politician) (1821–1866), American politician
• Edwin B. Kelsey, American politician, lawyer, and businessman
• Thomas Kelsey (died c. 1680), important figure in the government of Oliver Cromwell
• Tim Kelsey director for patients and information in the National Health Service
• William H. Kelsey (1812–1879), U.S. Congressman (1855–1859)

Other

• Benjamin Kelsey (1813–1889), California pioneer, husband of Nancy Kelsey.
• Benjamin S. Kelsey (1906–1981), American Air Force test pilot and aeronautical engineer
• Carl Kelsey (1870–1953), American sociologist
• Frances Oldham Kelsey (1914–2015), naturalized American pharmacologist
• Henry Kelsey (c. 1667–1724), English fur trader, explorer, helped found Hudson's Bay Company
• Hugh Kelsey (1926–1995), Scottish bridge player and writer
• John Kelsey (cryptanalyst), cryptographer currently working at NIST
• Nancy Kelsey, California pioneer, "the Betsy Ross of California" for sewing the Bear Flag

See also

• Kelce, surname
• Kelsay (surname)
• Kelsie
• Kelsay

References