Kelso Family Tree research resources
Explore the detail of the Kelso Family Tree using the resources below. We hope you find these sites useful whilst you are researching your Genealogy !
 | Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 703 people with the Kelso surname? In that year Kelso was ranked number 2877 for popularity in the UK. |
"Local: from Kelsoland in Ayrshire. The family are descended from Hugo de Kelso of Kelsoland, 1296. "(The origin and signification of Scottish surnames. Clifford Stanley Sims, 1862)
Kelso records on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your Kelso family tree. Many large databases are available to search covering from births, deaths and marriages, military records, census records and immigration records with many other smaller collections too. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to fill out a lot of your tree quickly.
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Ancestry.com Global records search results for the Kelso family. |
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Ancestry.com US records search results for the Kelso family. |
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Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for the Kelso family. |
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Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for the Kelso family. |
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Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for the Kelso family. |
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Historical References
"KELSO. From the town of the name in Roxburghshire. About the year 1200 Arnald, son of Peter de Kelso, gave the messuage of Kelso to the monks of the abbey (Kelso, 354). Richard of Kelchow was clerk to the Lord Chancellor, c. 1220 (Athole, p. 704), and witnessed a charter by Elena, daughter of Alan, lord of Galloway, in favor of the bishop of Glasgow, 1233 (REG., p. 138). John de Kalchou who witnessed a charter in favor of the Hospital of Soltre, c. 1214-19, is probably John de Kelcov who witnessed a grant of the lands of Jonystoun to the same house in 1250 (Satire, p. 19, 31). Humphrey de Kalchou witnessed a resignation by Alan de Sarcino in favor of the church of S. Mary of Kelso, 1260 (Kelso, i, p. 219; n, p. 283). Huwe de Kelshowe of Ayrshire, who rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, n, p. 199, 551), is supposed to have been ancestor of the Kelsos of Kelsoland, an old family (now extinct) in the parish of Largs. The legend on his seal reads, Sigiir Hogonis de Calcovia. In 1403 Johannes de Kelsou, filius domini de Kelsouland, quitclaimed the land called Langlebank in the parish of Largyss to the monks of Paisley, and in 1432 pledged himself to give the monks there half a stone of wax yearly at the feast of S. Minims, from the ferms of Kelsowland (RMP., p. 244, 369 9372). The name of the Kelsos of Sannox in Arran, an old family there (offshoot from Ayrshire), has been Gaelicized Caolisten. The name is also recorded in Bute in 1541 (RMS., m, 2583). Kelsoland was sold in 1871 to John Brisbane of Bishopton, who changed the name from Kelsoland to Brisbane. Kelsow 1624. "(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)
DNA
Sometimes you can run into a brick wall in your tree and you just don't have enough evidence to make that next step back in time. A DNA test can sometimes help to make a link to a particular family name if you find you share common DNA with people who have the same or similar surnames as each other. If you are lucky then you may get a match within a few generations and discover some Kelso ancestors. Additionally, the modern DNA test can give you a breakdown of your ethnic mix - you may be surprised at the results!
Have you reached a brick wall in your Kelso Tree?
Visit our Kelso DNA page to find out more.
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for the Kelso Family History
Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the Kelso Genealogy that will form part of your family tree. Although records vary from country to country, they are normally the most formal record of a person's relations. From the sources listed below it will be possible to locate a birth record and, from that record, a birth certificate may be obtainable which is likely to list the names of the parents, therefore taking you back another generation. A marriage certificate may also list the names of the respective fathers of the bride and groom which may then help you to find them earlier in life on a census record enabling you to fill out more detail in the Kelso family tree.
Investigate Kelso Parish Records at Find My Past.
Check out the UK registered births, marriages and deaths for the Kelso family name using the FreeBMD database.
Explore Genealogy Bank for Kelso family records.
Search MyHeritage for Kelso family data.
Search the LDS Database for records of the Kelso family.
Research the Kelso surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original Kelso Military records.
| Did you know that there are currently 1127 people with the Kelso surname in the UK? Kelso is now ranked number 2991 for popularity in the UK. |
Kelso Family History Databases
Investigate WikiTree for user contributed Kelso family records. Collaboration is encouraged so that accuracy of Kelso data can be verified or corrected by other users.
Study MyTrees for information on the Kelso family and people looking to contact living Kelso relations.
Explore GENi for Kelso family records.
Find your Irish Kelso relatives on findmypast.ie
Kelso Forums
Research the Kelso surname using Genealogy.com forums .
| Did you know that there are currently 9115 people with the Kelso surname in the USA? Kelso is ranked number 154 for popularity in the USA. |
Miscellaneous Kelso Databases
Explore the Ellis Island Database for information on the Kelso family. This database contains over 25 million immigration records detailing passengers arriving in the United States of America.
Use the Surname Map project to look at the current distribution of the Kelso surname in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Romania.
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