Kellogg
A surname that likely began as a colorful medieval nickname, probably tied to a boar- or hog-related insult or joke.
The #2,378 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 20,157 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Kellogg is generally taken to be a nickname name from medieval English, though its exact starting point is uncertain. One suggestion links it to a form like Middle English "cullehog" or a similar expression, with "hog" clearly pointing to the animal; such names were often used humorously or teasingly. The first element is obscure, so the literal sense is not fully secure, but the overall shape strongly suggests a descriptive nickname rather than a place name or occupation.
History
The name appears in English surname tradition and later established itself in North America, where Kellogg became especially familiar through the cereal-making family. Historical surname writers have treated it as one of several comic or satirical medieval names built on animal imagery. Because the early form is not well documented, the exact pathway from the medieval nickname to the modern spelling remains somewhat uncertain.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname was later made especially famous in the U.S. by the Kellogg family of cereal fame.
From the historical record
“Kelley, 224. Kellie, 438. Kellogg, 438. Kellond, 460. Kells, 438. Kellum, 438. Kellups, 438. Kelly, 224.”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)Notable people named Kellogg
- Frank B. Kellogg (1856–1937)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.