UK surname
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cionnfhaolaidh, meaning "descendant of a descendant of the wolf."
In the 1881 census there were 106 people recorded with the Kennady surname, ranking it #19,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 35, ranked #35,703, down from #19,083 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lochs, Blantyre and Kilbride. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kennady is 351 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 67.0%.
1881 census count
106
Ranked #19,083
Modern count
35
2016, ranked #35,703
Peak year
1861
351 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kennady surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kennady 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 | 273 | #8,212 |
| 1861 | historical | 351 | #7,278 |
| 1881 | historical | 106 | #19,083 |
| 1891 | historical | 125 | #20,713 |
| 1901 | historical | 65 | #26,917 |
| 1911 | historical | 25 | #30,654 |
| 1997 | modern | 31 | #34,582 |
| 1998 | modern | 32 | #34,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 36 | #34,323 |
| 2000 | modern | 34 | #34,517 |
| 2001 | modern | 33 | #34,436 |
| 2002 | modern | 32 | #34,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 30 | #35,046 |
| 2004 | modern | 27 | #35,444 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 32 | #35,392 |
| 2007 | modern | 32 | #35,530 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 35 | #35,545 |
| 2010 | modern | 35 | #35,676 |
| 2011 | modern | 32 | #35,831 |
| 2012 | modern | 38 | #35,481 |
| 2013 | modern | 33 | #35,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 31 | #35,953 |
| 2015 | modern | 32 | #35,876 |
| 2016 | modern | 35 | #35,703 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lochs, Blantyre, Kilbride, Newcastle All Saints and Manchester. 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 | Blantyre | Lanark |
| 3 | Kilbride | Bute |
| 4 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kennady 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 Kennady, 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 Kennady surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kennady 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, Kennady 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 Kennady is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kennady, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kennady originated in Ireland and is a variant spelling of the more common Kennedy name. The roots of the name can be traced back to the 13th century and the ancient Celtic Gaelic language, where it is derived from the words "O'Cinneidigh" meaning "descendant of the ugly-headed one."
The Kennady clan was based primarily in County Tipperary, Ireland, though they also had a strong presence in counties Longford and Westmeath. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of Ulster from 1333, referring to Ruaidhri O'Cinneidigh.
In the 16th century, the Kennady name is found in the Fiants of the Tudor Conquest, which were records of royal pardons and land grants issued by the English monarchy during their conquest of Ireland. A notable bearer of the name from this era was Terence O'Kennedy (c. 1500 - c. 1560), a Catholic priest and writer.
The Kennady spelling became more prevalent in the 17th and 18th centuries, with several notable figures emerging from this lineage. One was Mathew Kennedy (1652 - 1735), a member of the Irish Parliament and prominent landowner in County Tipperary.
Another was Patrick Kennedy (1701 - 1779), a Catholic priest and educator who founded the Catholic seminary in Thurles, County Tipperary, which later became St. Patrick's College. He played a significant role in preserving Catholic education in Ireland during the Penal Laws.
In the 19th century, the Kennady name made its way to the United States through Irish immigration. One of the earliest recorded examples is Barnard Kennedy (1785 - 1858), who settled in Philadelphia and became a successful merchant and shipowner.
Finally, a more recent bearer of the Kennady surname was Henry Gratton Kennady (1858 - 1940), a British naval officer and colonial administrator who served as Governor of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the early 20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kennady 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 20 Kennadys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.65x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 20 | 1.65x |
| Yorkshire | 20 | 1.97x |
| Cumberland | 11 | 12.47x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 0.98x |
| Northumberland | 10 | 6.56x |
| Durham | 5 | 1.64x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 1.77x |
| Leicestershire | 4 | 3.52x |
| Aberdeenshire | 3 | 3.16x |
| Flintshire | 3 | 10.90x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 0.91x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 1.46x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 1.45x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.40x |
| Banffshire | 1 | 4.71x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.47x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 4.42x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Nairnshire | 1 | 31.95x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 2.18x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aughton in Lancashire leads with 10 Kennadys recorded in 1881 and an index of 833.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aughton | 10 | 833.33x |
| Wakefield | 8 | 102.70x |
| Workington | 6 | 118.81x |
| Anick | 5 | 10000.00x |
| Arlecdon | 5 | 212.77x |
| Liverpool | 5 | 6.77x |
| St Katherine Coleman | 5 | 5000.00x |
| Byker | 4 | 53.12x |
| Hyde | 4 | 59.97x |
| Barony | 3 | 3.58x |
| Flint | 3 | 192.31x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 5.22x |
| Lepton | 3 | 283.02x |
| Syston | 3 | 283.02x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 2 | 11.27x |
| Ardwick | 2 | 18.25x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 2 | 7.65x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 2 | 3.62x |
| Middlesbrough | 2 | 15.13x |
| Nottingham St Peter | 2 | 129.87x |
| Sheffield | 2 | 6.19x |
| Whickham | 2 | 71.43x |
| Abram | 1 | 107.53x |
| Belhelvie | 1 | 153.85x |
| Castleton | 1 | 8.24x |
| Cawdor | 1 | 263.16x |
| Chirton | 1 | 28.99x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 4.85x |
| Exeter St Edmund | 1 | 217.39x |
| Habergham Eaves | 1 | 9.00x |
| Halifax | 1 | 6.71x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 18.15x |
| Huddersfield | 1 | 6.76x |
| Keith | 1 | 44.25x |
| Killin | 1 | 222.22x |
| Kirkmahoe | 1 | 227.27x |
| Knottingley | 1 | 56.18x |
| Lanchester | 1 | 178.57x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 4.59x |
| Newington | 1 | 2.64x |
| Putney | 1 | 21.41x |
| Saddleworth | 1 | 12.77x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 12.99x |
| Whitwick | 1 | 69.44x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kennady 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 Kennady 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 Kennady households.
FAQ
In 1881, 106 people were recorded with the Kennady surname. That placed it at #19,083 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 35 in 2016. That gives Kennady a modern rank of #35,703.
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cionnfhaolaidh, meaning "descendant of a descendant of the wolf."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kennady 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.