UK surname
Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "head of the flat valley".
In the 1881 census there were 394 people recorded with the Kenedy surname, ranking it #8,055 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 41, ranked #35,388, down from #8,055 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kenedy is 768 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.6%.
1881 census count
394
Ranked #8,055
Modern count
41
2016, ranked #35,388
Peak year
1851
768 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kenedy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kenedy surname density by area, 1881 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 | 768 | #3,478 |
| 1861 | historical | 716 | #3,802 |
| 1881 | historical | 394 | #8,055 |
| 1891 | historical | 302 | #11,058 |
| 1901 | historical | 140 | #18,795 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 25 | #35,261 |
| 1998 | modern | 24 | #35,488 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 17 | #36,207 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 27 | #35,444 |
| 2005 | modern | 25 | #35,752 |
| 2006 | modern | 27 | #35,746 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 29 | #35,808 |
| 2009 | modern | 32 | #35,730 |
| 2010 | modern | 42 | #35,294 |
| 2011 | modern | 40 | #35,395 |
| 2012 | modern | 40 | #35,369 |
| 2013 | modern | 45 | #35,167 |
| 2014 | modern | 49 | #34,991 |
| 2015 | modern | 43 | #35,269 |
| 2016 | modern | 41 | #35,388 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Manchester, Tiree and Coll and Merthyr Tydfil. 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 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Tiree and Coll | Argyll |
| 5 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kenedy 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 Kenedy, 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 Kenedy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kenedy 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, Kenedy 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 Kenedy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kenedy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kenedy is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Cinnéidigh, which originated in the 13th century in County Galway, Ireland. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "ceann" meaning "head" and "éidigh" meaning "ugly" or "unsightly". It likely referred to an ancestor with a distinct physical feature or facial characteristic.
Early records show the name spelled in various ways, including O'Kenedy, O'Kennedy, and Kennedie. One of the earliest documented references is in the Annals of the Four Masters, which mentions the death of Tadhg O'Cinneidigh in 1261.
In the 16th century, the Kenedys were one of the most powerful families in County Galway, known as Lords of Hy-Many. The Kenedys played a significant role in the Gaelic resistance against the English conquest of Ireland during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Notable individuals with the surname Kenedy include:
1. John Kenedy (c. 1450-1508), Lord of Hy-Many, who led the Kenedy clan during the Anglo-Irish wars. 2. Edmond Kenedy (1548-1610), a Jesuit priest and writer who was one of the founders of the Irish College in Salamanca, Spain. 3. Robert Kenedy (1675-1735), a prominent Irish landowner and member of the Irish Parliament. 4. Robert Kenedy (1748-1824), an American merchant and landowner who founded the city of Corpus Christi, Texas. 5. John Kenedy (1819-1857), an Irish-born American businessman and landowner who was one of the founders of the King Ranch in Texas.
The surname Kenedy has a rich historical background deeply rooted in Irish heritage and played a significant role in the country's tumultuous history. While the spelling has evolved over time, the name's origins can be traced back to County Galway in the 13th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kenedy 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. Lancashire leads with 69 Kenedys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.51x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 69 | 1.51x |
| Surrey | 41 | 2.19x |
| Middlesex | 35 | 0.91x |
| Yorkshire | 32 | 0.84x |
| Lanarkshire | 19 | 1.53x |
| Glamorgan | 18 | 2.69x |
| Argyllshire | 15 | 14.02x |
| Warwickshire | 11 | 1.13x |
| Cheshire | 10 | 1.18x |
| Essex | 10 | 1.32x |
| Renfrewshire | 10 | 3.36x |
| Staffordshire | 8 | 0.62x |
| Angus | 7 | 1.97x |
| Ayrshire | 7 | 2.43x |
| Durham | 7 | 0.61x |
| Kent | 7 | 0.53x |
| Monmouthshire | 7 | 2.52x |
| Northumberland | 7 | 1.22x |
| Buteshire | 6 | 25.76x |
| Gloucestershire | 6 | 0.80x |
| Isle of Man | 6 | 8.41x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 6 | 10.78x |
| Leicestershire | 6 | 1.41x |
| Dumfriesshire | 4 | 4.71x |
| Sussex | 4 | 0.62x |
| Aberdeenshire | 3 | 0.84x |
| Cumberland | 3 | 0.91x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 0.38x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 0.58x |
| Buckinghamshire | 2 | 0.86x |
| Flintshire | 2 | 1.94x |
| Inverness-shire | 2 | 1.74x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 0.33x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 0.40x |
| Anglesey | 1 | 1.47x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 0.50x |
| Berwickshire | 1 | 2.15x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 0.64x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.23x |
| Fife | 1 | 0.44x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Kincardineshire | 1 | 2.14x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.19x |
| Selkirkshire | 1 | 2.88x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.16x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.21x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 1.18x |
| Wigtownshire | 1 | 1.96x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mortlake in Surrey leads with 15 Kenedys recorded in 1881 and an index of 179.64x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kenedy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 30 |
| Margaret | 13 |
| Ann | 7 |
| Elizabeth | 7 |
| Sarah | 7 |
| Bridget | 5 |
| Catherine | 5 |
| Jane | 5 |
| Kate | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Julia | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Johanna | 2 |
| Lilian | 2 |
| Rose | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Allice | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catharina | 1 |
| Catharine | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Elen | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Elizth.C. | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Essia | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Hebe | 1 |
| Hester | 1 |
| Isabel | 1 |
| Janet | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Johana | 1 |
| Johannah | 1 |
| Katie | 1 |
| Laureslate | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Lousia | 1 |
| Loussia | 1 |
| M. | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kenedy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 25 |
| James | 18 |
| William | 15 |
| Patrick | 13 |
| Thomas | 13 |
| Michael | 8 |
| George | 4 |
| Henry | 4 |
| Andrew | 3 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Charles | 2 |
| Daniel | 2 |
| David | 2 |
| Denis | 2 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Hugh | 2 |
| Joseph | 2 |
| Martin | 2 |
| Samuel | 2 |
| Thos. | 2 |
| Walter | 2 |
| Alexander | 1 |
| Bartholomew | 1 |
| Batholumu | 1 |
| Christopher | 1 |
| Darby | 1 |
| E.J.F. | 1 |
| Edmund | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Gerald | 1 |
| Herbert | 1 |
| Hew. | 1 |
| Jeremiah | 1 |
| Lawrence | 1 |
| Mark | 1 |
| Micheal | 1 |
| Michel | 1 |
| Napier | 1 |
| Nathan | 1 |
| Paterick | 1 |
| Peter | 1 |
| R. | 1 |
| Richard | 1 |
| Robert | 1 |
| Timothy | 1 |
| Vincent | 1 |
| Walace | 1 |
| Wallace | 1 |
| Wm. | 1 |
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 Kenedy households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 50 |
| Labourer | 9 |
| Coal Miner | 7 |
| Laundress | 5 |
| Schoolar | 5 |
| Ag Lab | 4 |
| Bricklayer | 4 |
| General Laborer | 4 |
| Domestic | 3 |
| Joiner | 3 |
| Tailor | 3 |
| Anuitant | 2 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 2 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Coal Trimmer (Lab) | 2 |
| Cotton "Rover" | 2 |
| Draper | 2 |
| General Labourer | 2 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Genl Labourer | 2 |
| Hawker | 2 |
| Housekeeper | 2 |
| Machinist | 2 |
| Ag Labr | 1 |
| Agricultural Laburr | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Basket Woman | 1 |
| Behinder In Tin Wk | 1 |
| Bolt Turner | 1 |
| Boy | 1 |
| Brick Setters Labourer (Maker) | 1 |
| Charwoman Unemployed | 1 |
| Clerk Inland R | 1 |
| Clock Dial Polisher | 1 |
| Coal Miner Wife | 1 |
| Cobler | 1 |
| Colliery Labourer | 1 |
| Common Labourer Gen Lab | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Dom Serv Pauper | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Elementary Teacher (At School) | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Farm Lab | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Worsted Dyer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 394 people were recorded with the Kenedy surname. That placed it at #8,055 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 41 in 2016. That gives Kenedy a modern rank of #35,388.
Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "head of the flat valley".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kenedy 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.