Kelleher is an anglicized spelling of the Irish

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

derived from ''Ó Céileachair'', meaning "descendant of Céileachar"; Céileachar as a

personal name A personal name, full name or prosoponym (from Ancient Greek ''prósōpon'' – person, and ''onoma'' –name) is the set of names by which an individual person or animal is known. When taken together as a word-group, they all relate to that on ...

means "spouse-loving", "companion dear", or "lover of company". Other anglicized spellings include "Kelliher", "Kellegher" and "Keller".

People with the surname

Billy Kelleher William Kelleher (born 20 January 1968) is an Irish politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the South constituency since July 2019. He is a member of Fianna Fáil, part of Renew Europe. He previously se ...

(born 1968), Irish politician *

Benjamin Kelleher Benjamin Karl Kelleher (born Auckland New Zealand 18 August 1987) is a New Zealand-born Australian combat sports fighter where he competes in professional boxing, MMA fighting, kickboxing and Muay Thai boxing. Kelleher has fought over 80 times ...

, New Zealand-born Australian combat sports fighter *

Byron Kelleher Byron Terence Kelleher (born 3 December 1976 in Dunedin, New Zealand) is a former rugby union scrum-half who played for Stade Toulouse in the French Top 14 and has played 57 tests for the All Blacks. He was a very aggressive player, who special ...

, New Zealand rugby player *

Caoimhín Kelleher Caoimhín Odhrán Kelleher ( ; born 23 November 1998) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Brentford and the Republic of Ireland national team. Early life Caoimhín Odhrán Kelleher was born on 23 November 19 ...

, Irish footballer *

Colm Kelleher Thomas Columba "Colm" Kelleher (born 30 May 1957) is an Irish-British business executive and banker. He is the chairman of the board of directors of the Swiss multinational investment bank and financial services company, UBS Group, since 2022. ...

, Irish banking executive * Dermot P. Kelleher, Irish medical doctor and researcher; Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London *

Garrett Kelleher Garrett Kelleher is an Irish real estate developer and businessman with additional corporate interests in finance, film and education. Early life and education Kelleher was born in Dublin, Ireland. Educated at Belvedere College, Kelleher first ...

, Irish real estate developer *

Harry Kelleher Henry Robert Albert Kelleher (3 March 1929 – 18 May 2025) was an English first-class cricketer who played for Surrey and Northamptonshire between 1955 and 1958. Career Kelleher was a right-arm fast-medium bowler with a whippy bowling actio ...

(1929–2025), English cricketer *

Herb Kelleher Herbert David Kelleher (March 12, 1931 – January 3, 2019) was an American billionaire airline businessman and lawyer. He was the co-founder, later CEO, and chairman emeritus of Southwest Airlines until his death in 2019. Early life Kelleher ...

(1931–2019), American lawyer and entrepreneur; co-founder of Southwest Airlines *

Humphrey Kelleher Humphrey Kelleher (1946–2005) was an Irish sportsman. He played Gaelic football with his local club Millstreet and, from 1971 until 1975, at senior level for the Cork county team. Playing career Club Kelleher played his club football with ...

, Irish Gaelic footballer *

James Kelleher James Francis Kelleher (October 2, 1930 – June 2, 2013) was a Canadian politician and retired senator. Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, he received a B.A. degree in 1952 from Queen's University and an LL.B. degree in 1956 from Osgoo ...

, Canadian lawyer and politician * John Kelleher (1893–1960), American baseball player and coach *

Keely Kelleher Keely Kelleher (born August 12, 1984) is an American alpine skier who has competed since 2000. Her best World Cup finish was 20th at a super giant slalom event in Canada in 2009. Kelleher was named to the US team for the 2010 Winter Olympics ...

(born 1984), American alpine skier *

Martin Kelleher Four to the Bar was an American band from New York City during the early to mid-1990s. Band history The Early Days: 1991–1992 Four to the Bar was formed in the working-class immigrant Irish community of Woodside, Queens, New York City, in 1 ...

, Irish-American musician; member of the band Four to the Bar *

Mick Kelleher Michael Dennis Kelleher (born July 25, 1947) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, and California Angels. He coa ...

, American baseball player * Paul Kelleher, British theatre producer and criminal *

Robbie Kelleher Robbie Kelleher is a former Gaelic footballer who played for the Dublin county team. He is All-Ireland winning. Biography He grew up in Glasnevin, County Dublin. He was educated at Coláiste Mhuire, where he excelled in his studies which incl ...

, Irish Gaelic footballer * Robert J. Kelleher, American judge and tennis player * Robert Kelleher, American politician * Stephen Kelleher (1875–1917), Irish mathematician *

Tim Kelleher (actor) Tim Kelleher is an American writer, actor and director. Biography Early life Born in the Bronx, Kelleher grew up across the five boroughs of New York City, including Staten Island. After college he entered the Maryland Province of the Society ...

, American actor *

Tim Kelleher (musician) Timothy Kelleher (born October 4, 1980) is an American musician best known for touring with the American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars from 2007 to 2011, and most recently was a member of the American rock band Filter from 2013 to 2015. He wa ...

(born 1980), American musician * Tom Kelleher (Irish republican), Irish Republic Army member *

Victor Kelleher Victor Kelleher (born 1939) is an Australian writer. Kelleher was born in London and moved to Africa with his parents, at the age of fifteen. He spent the next twenty years travelling and studying in Africa, before moving to New Zealand. Kelle ...

, Australian author * Walter Kelleher, American photographer

Others

* Kelleher International, matchmaking service that caters to high-net-worth individuals and celebrities * Kellegher

References

{{surname Surnames of Irish origin Anglicised Irish-language surnames