UK surname
Irish surname possibly derived from the Gaelic Ó Cionnaith meaning descendant of Cionnadh.
In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Kenady surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #32,243 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lochs, Rugby and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kenady is 120 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 60.0%.
1881 census count
10
Ranked #32,243
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1861
120 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kenady surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kenady surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 85 | #18,940 |
| 1861 | historical | 120 | #18,255 |
| 1881 | historical | 10 | #32,243 |
| 1891 | historical | 12 | #33,181 |
| 1901 | historical | 3 | #34,063 |
| 1911 | historical | 2 | #34,020 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lochs, Rugby, St Dunstan Stepney, Kilfinan and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lochs | Ross And Cromarty |
| 2 | Rugby | Warwickshire |
| 3 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Kilfinan | Argyll |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kenady surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kenady, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Kenady surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kenady household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Kenady is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kenady is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kenady, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname KENADY has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic name "Ó Cionnaith," which translates to "descendant of Cionnadh." Cionnadh is an ancient personal name of uncertain meaning, possibly related to the word "cionn," meaning "head" or "leader."
The KENADY name is most commonly found in County Cork and County Kerry in the southern part of Ireland. It is believed to have originated in the Gaelic territory of Uí Rathach, which was located in what is now County Kerry. The name was anglicized from its original Gaelic form during the 16th and 17th centuries, leading to various spellings such as Kennedy, Kenady, and Kenedy.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the KENADY surname can be found in the "Annals of the Four Masters," a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention a "Cionnadh Ó Rathach" in the year 1172, who was a notable figure in the territory of Uí Rathach.
In the 14th century, a branch of the KENADY family settled in the Barony of Ibrickan, County Clare, where they became prominent landowners. This branch of the family produced several notable figures, including Sir Thomas Kennedy (1545-1625), who served as Lord President of Munster and was knighted by King James I of England.
Another notable figure with the KENADY surname was Walter Kennedy (1455-1508), who served as Lord High Treasurer of Scotland under King James IV. He played a significant role in Scottish politics and was involved in the negotiations for the marriage of King James IV to Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry VII of England.
In the 18th century, Matthew Kennedy (1718-1781) was a prominent Irish-American merchant and landowner in Delaware. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly and played a role in the American Revolutionary War.
The KENADY surname has also been associated with several places in Ireland. For example, Kenady Castle, located in County Limerick, was once a stronghold of the Kennedy clan in the region.
Throughout history, the KENADY name has been closely tied to its Irish roots and has produced numerous notable individuals who have left their mark in various fields, including politics, military service, and commerce.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kenady surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 5 Kenadys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.28x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 5 | 17.28x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 2.07x |
| Kent | 1 | 3.01x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 16.64x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 22.88x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stranton in Durham leads with 3 Kenadys recorded in 1881 and an index of 309.28x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stranton | 3 | 309.28x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 2 | 80.65x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 56.50x |
| Longforgan | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Oxford St Mary Magdalen | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Pickering | 1 | 833.33x |
| Westerdale | 1 | 10000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kenady surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kenady surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kenady households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Builders Labourer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Labourer In Metal Fac & Chelsea Pensioner | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Master Marriner | 1 |
| Master Marriner Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Kenady surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Kenady a modern rank of #38,419.
Irish surname possibly derived from the Gaelic Ó Cionnaith meaning descendant of Cionnadh.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kenady bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.