NameCensus.

UK surname

Kenealy

A surname derived from the Irish name Ó Cinnéalaigh, meaning "descendant of Cinnéalach".

In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Kenealy surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 329, ranked #13,798, up from #15,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Winwick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Shepway and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kenealy is 353 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 130.1%.

1881 census count

143

Ranked #15,955

Modern count

329

2016, ranked #13,798

Peak year

2002

353 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kenealy had 143 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016, ranked #13,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 219 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Kenealy surname distribution map

The map shows where the Kenealy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Kenealy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kenealy over time

The 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 14 #30,790
1861 historical 32 #29,944
1881 historical 143 #15,955
1891 historical 164 #17,205
1901 historical 219 #14,292
1911 historical 201 #14,905
1997 modern 330 #12,701
1998 modern 339 #12,810
1999 modern 335 #12,993
2000 modern 335 #12,953
2001 modern 328 #12,944
2002 modern 353 #12,512
2003 modern 336 #12,786
2004 modern 335 #12,870
2005 modern 326 #13,045
2006 modern 327 #13,092
2007 modern 323 #13,351
2008 modern 320 #13,550
2009 modern 328 #13,574
2010 modern 328 #13,856
2011 modern 324 #13,839
2012 modern 313 #14,095
2013 modern 334 #13,648
2014 modern 340 #13,554
2015 modern 330 #13,774
2016 modern 329 #13,798

Geography

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Where Kenealys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Winwick and Govan Combination. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Shepway, Wigan, Three Rivers and Broxbourne. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Winwick Lancashire
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 009 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Shepway 003 Shepway
3 Wigan 032 Wigan
4 Three Rivers 001 Three Rivers
5 Broxbourne 005 Broxbourne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kenealy

These lists show first names that appear often with the Kenealy surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kenealy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kenealy, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Kenealy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kenealy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Kenealy is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kenealy is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kenealy falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kenealy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kenealy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kenealy

The surname Kenealy is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Ó Cionalaith, which means "descendant of Cionalaith." The name is believed to have originated in County Cork, Ireland, as early as the 12th century.

Kenealy is a variant spelling of the more common Irish surname, Kinealy. Other spellings include Kinaley, Kyneally, and Kynealey. The name likely evolved due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions in the English language during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kenealy can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, an Irish chronicle that dates back to the 13th century. The annals mention a man named Diarmaid Ó Cionalaith, who was a prominent figure in County Cork during that time.

In the 16th century, the Kenealy family was well-established in the region of Muskerry, County Cork. Several members of the family held positions of importance, including Patrick Kenealy, who served as a member of the Irish Parliament in the late 1500s.

During the 17th century, many Irish families, including the Kenealys, were dispossessed of their lands due to the Cromwellian conquest and the subsequent plantation of Protestant settlers in Ireland. As a result, some members of the Kenealy family emigrated to other parts of the world, including England, Australia, and the Americas.

One notable member of the Kenealy family was Edward Vaughan Hyde Kenealy (1819-1880), an English barrister and writer who gained notoriety for his defense of the alleged Jack the Ripper suspect, Thomas Pyter. Kenealy was also a prolific author, publishing works on topics ranging from law to literature.

Another prominent individual with the surname Kenealy was Edward John Kenealy (1809-1872), an Irish-Australian politician and journalist. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council and a strong advocate for the separation of the colony from British rule.

In the United States, a notable figure with the Kenealy surname was William Kenealy (1837-1903), a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863.

While the Kenealy name may not be as prevalent as some other Irish surnames, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and continents. From its origins in County Cork to its appearance in various historical records and the accomplishments of notable individuals, the name Kenealy holds a unique place in the annals of Irish and global history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kenealy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kenealy surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 46 Kenealys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.30x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 46 3.30x
Lancashire 28 1.69x
Glamorgan 18 7.41x
Essex 9 3.27x
Gloucestershire 6 2.19x
Lanarkshire 6 1.33x
Monmouthshire 6 5.95x
Staffordshire 6 1.27x
Warwickshire 6 1.71x
Northumberland 3 1.45x
Kent 2 0.42x
Sussex 2 0.85x
Berkshire 1 0.96x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.13x
Cheshire 1 0.32x
Devon 1 0.34x
Inverness-shire 1 2.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gelligaer in Glamorgan leads with 11 Kenealys recorded in 1881 and an index of 198.20x.

Place Total Index
Gelligaer 11 198.20x
St Marylebone London 11 14.77x
St Pancras London 11 9.80x
West Derby 8 16.52x
Bromley London 7 22.82x
Birmingham 6 5.12x
Bristol Christchurch 6 1500.00x
Cardiff St John 6 75.66x
Govan 6 5.38x
Kensington London 6 7.74x
Trevethin 6 63.03x
Manchester 5 6.72x
Newchurch 5 36.93x
West Ham 5 8.23x
Wigan 5 21.62x
Walthamstow 4 40.36x
Chelsea London 3 7.14x
Hackney London 3 3.84x
Isleworth 3 48.39x
North Shields 3 72.46x
Wednesbury 3 25.49x
Bilston 2 21.93x
East Grinstead 2 60.06x
Liverpool 2 1.99x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 2.76x
Bisham 1 294.12x
Chatteris 1 44.44x
Cheetham 1 8.10x
Chester St John Baptist 1 18.08x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.72x
Duirinish 1 47.17x
Hougham 1 35.34x
Paddington London 1 1.95x
Parr 1 16.89x
Poplar London 1 3.80x
Swansea 1 370.37x
Tamerton Foliott 1 178.57x
Walsall Foreign 1 4.11x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kenealy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 17
Catherine 6
Ellen 6
Elizabeth 4
Margaret 4
Elisabeth 3
Eliza 3
Annie 2
Bridget 2
Julia 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Arabella 1
Betsy 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriete 1
Isabel 1
Johanna 1
John 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
M. 1
Norah 1
Sarah 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kenealy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 16
Patrick 10
James 6
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Maurice 3
Michael 3
William 3
T. 2
Alexander 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Denis 1
Edw. 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
George 1
Jeremiah 1
Jermiah 1
M. 1
Mary 1
Noel 1
Phippip 1
Robert 1
Timothy 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Kenealy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kenealy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Kenealy surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kenealy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016. That gives Kenealy a modern rank of #13,798.

What does the Kenealy surname mean?

A surname derived from the Irish name Ó Cinnéalaigh, meaning "descendant of Cinnéalach".

What does the Kenealy map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kenealy bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.