NameCensus.

UK surname

Kennedy

An Irish surname derived from Ó Cinnéidigh, meaning "descendant of Cennétig," a given name composed of two elements meaning "head" and "ugly."

In the 1881 census there were 18,038 people recorded with the Kennedy surname, ranking it #208 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37,769, ranked #138, up from #208 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Fort William South and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kennedy is 37,937 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.4%.

1881 census count

18,038

Ranked #208

Modern count

37,769

2016, ranked #138

Peak year

2014

37,937 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kennedy had 18,038 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #208 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 37,769 in 2016, ranked #138.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 22,614 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Kennedy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kennedy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kennedy 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 10,843 #230
1861 historical 11,970 #201
1881 historical 18,038 #208
1891 historical 19,507 #201
1901 historical 22,614 #209
1911 historical 12,704 #385
1997 modern 34,086 #143
1998 modern 35,447 #143
1999 modern 35,751 #144
2000 modern 35,600 #145
2001 modern 34,785 #144
2002 modern 35,726 #144
2003 modern 35,022 #143
2004 modern 35,110 #144
2005 modern 35,027 #142
2006 modern 35,269 #141
2007 modern 35,645 #139
2008 modern 36,015 #139
2009 modern 36,941 #139
2010 modern 37,899 #139
2011 modern 37,201 #139
2012 modern 36,567 #139
2013 modern 37,489 #139
2014 modern 37,937 #139
2015 modern 37,734 #138
2016 modern 37,769 #138

Geography

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Where Kennedys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Fort William South and Northumberland. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 017 County Durham
2 County Durham 018 County Durham
3 Fort William South Highland
4 Northumberland 037 Northumberland
5 County Durham 016 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kennedy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kennedy

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Kennedy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kennedy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kennedy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kennedy 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

Kennedy falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kennedy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kennedy

The surname Kennedy is of Irish origin, with its roots traced back to the ancient Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata, which spanned parts of northeastern Ireland and western Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic "O'Cinneidigh," meaning "descendant of Cennéidigh" or "ugly head."

The name Kennedy is believed to have first appeared in written records during the 12th century, when it was recorded as "Kennavydych" in the Book of Fees, a medieval Scottish text. Over time, the name evolved through various spellings, including "Kennedie," "Kenneday," and "Kennedye," before settling into its modern form.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Gillebride MacKennedy, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the 13th century. He was a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Scotland and is mentioned in several historical documents from that era.

The Kennedy family played a significant role in Scottish history, particularly during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 13th and 14th centuries. Robert Kennedy, born in 1314, was a staunch supporter of Robert the Bruce and fought alongside him in several battles against the English.

In the 16th century, the Kennedy family established themselves as a powerful clan in Ayrshire, Scotland. One of their most notable members was David Kennedy, born in 1520, who served as a Lord of the Congregation during the Scottish Reformation.

The name Kennedy also gained prominence in Ireland, where it was associated with the O'Kennedy clan, a prominent family in County Tipperary. Brian O'Kennedy, born in 1460, was a famous Irish chieftain and military leader who fought against the Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland.

As the Kennedy name spread across the British Isles and beyond, it became associated with several notable figures throughout history. These include:

1. Archibald Kennedy, 1st Marquess of Ailsa (1770-1846), a Scottish peer and landowner. 2. John Pendleton Kennedy (1795-1870), an American novelist and politician. 3. John A. Kennedy (1837-1920), a Canadian politician and entrepreneur. 4. John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), the 35th President of the United States. 5. Ian Kennedy (born 1984), an American professional baseball pitcher.

The surname Kennedy has a rich history spanning centuries, rooted in the ancient Celtic cultures of the British Isles. Its evolution and the achievements of its bearers have contributed to its enduring legacy as a prominent surname across the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kennedy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kennedy 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. Lancashire leads with 2,597 Kennedys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.24x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2,597 1.24x
Lanarkshire 2,443 4.29x
Middlesex 1,100 0.62x
Yorkshire 904 0.52x
Durham 837 1.60x
Ayrshire 799 6.06x
Renfrewshire 766 5.61x
Angus 631 3.87x
Northumberland 570 2.18x
Midlothian 566 2.40x
Argyllshire 528 10.77x
Inverness-shire 523 9.94x
Perthshire 512 6.48x
Cumberland 463 3.05x
Aberdeenshire 393 2.41x
Surrey 364 0.42x
Dumfriesshire 323 8.30x
Dunbartonshire 313 6.61x
Cheshire 291 0.75x
Ross-shire 268 5.54x
Kent 205 0.34x
Stirlingshire 185 2.85x
Warwickshire 156 0.35x
Roxburghshire 149 4.67x
Fife 143 1.37x
Wigtownshire 122 5.22x
Hampshire 120 0.33x
Staffordshire 102 0.17x
Glamorgan 100 0.33x
Essex 85 0.24x
Caithness 77 3.19x
Devon 77 0.21x
Kirkcudbrightshire 76 2.98x
Gloucestershire 75 0.22x
West Lothian 74 2.79x
Sussex 61 0.21x
Banffshire 58 1.59x
Lincolnshire 58 0.21x
Leicestershire 55 0.28x
Buteshire 53 4.97x
Derbyshire 53 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 47 0.20x
Selkirkshire 42 2.64x
Kincardineshire 40 1.86x
Royal Navy 40 1.91x
Morayshire 37 1.35x
Buckinghamshire 34 0.32x
Norfolk 32 0.12x
Berkshire 31 0.23x
Bedfordshire 29 0.32x
Clackmannanshire 27 1.86x
Orkney 27 1.39x
Channel Islands 25 0.48x
Flintshire 25 0.53x
Northamptonshire 25 0.15x
Peeblesshire 24 2.90x
Worcestershire 20 0.09x
East Lothian 19 0.81x
Hertfordshire 19 0.16x
Somerset 19 0.07x
Berwickshire 17 0.80x
Denbighshire 17 0.26x
Isle of Man 17 0.52x
Dorset 16 0.14x
Sutherland 16 1.18x
Suffolk 15 0.07x
Cornwall 14 0.07x
Monmouthshire 14 0.11x
Nairnshire 12 2.23x
Westmorland 10 0.26x
Brecknockshire 9 0.26x
Wiltshire 9 0.06x
Caernarfonshire 8 0.11x
Kinross-shire 8 1.80x
Shropshire 8 0.05x
Herefordshire 7 0.10x
Oxfordshire 6 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.07x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.03x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.09x
Anglesey 2 0.06x
Cardiganshire 1 0.02x
Radnorshire 1 0.07x
Rutland 1 0.08x
Shetland 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 728 Kennedys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.17x.

Place Total Index
Govan 728 5.17x
Barony 670 4.65x
Glasgow 426 4.21x
Liverpool 379 2.99x
Dundee 282 4.63x
Manchester 271 2.88x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 259 2.73x
Abbey 143 6.87x
Everton 143 2.15x
Leeds 142 1.44x
Salford 142 2.31x
Gateshead 141 3.59x
West Greenock 136 5.55x
Kirkdale 132 3.75x
Liff Benvie 125 5.05x
Toxteth Park 111 1.57x
Birmingham 104 0.70x
Old Monkland 102 4.51x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 99 4.36x
Kilmallie 99 39.25x
Kilmonivaig 99 84.77x
Aberdeen Old Machar 95 2.79x
Kensington London 94 0.96x
Lochs 93 24.15x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 86 2.82x
Islington London 86 0.50x
St Pancras London 84 0.59x
Inverness 81 6.12x
Paisley High Church 81 7.45x
Tyree 80 47.95x
Hulme 78 1.79x
Birkenhead 77 2.48x
Chorlton On Medlock 77 2.32x
Kilmarnock 77 4.91x
Hawick 73 10.22x
Blackburn 72 1.29x
Kingussie Insh 72 59.68x
Maybole 72 17.94x
Paisley Middle Church 71 8.93x
Bothwell 68 4.40x
East Greenock 67 5.20x
Ardnamurchan 66 26.54x
Lambeth 66 0.43x
Dumbarton 65 9.87x
New Monkland 65 3.86x
West Derby 64 1.05x
Bradford 63 1.49x
Cardross 62 10.91x
Cathcart 60 8.12x
Ayr 59 9.48x
Newton On Ayr 59 14.94x
Cambusnethan 58 4.58x
Paddington London 58 0.90x
Canisbay 55 34.74x
Chelsea London 55 1.04x
Perth East Church 54 7.25x
Applecross 53 38.98x
Keighley 51 2.74x
Coll 50 127.58x
New Kilpatrick 50 11.10x
Oldham 50 0.74x
St Marylebone London 50 0.53x
Whitehaven 50 6.19x
Auchtergaven 49 36.98x
Hamilton 49 3.08x
St George Hanover Square 49 1.58x
Ashton Under Lyne 48 1.05x
Dumfries 48 12.51x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 47 3.00x
Elswick 46 2.20x
Holy Trinity 44 1.05x
Widnes 44 2.92x
Wigan 44 1.51x
Eastwood 43 5.12x
Pendleton In Salford 43 1.73x
Logierait 42 30.18x
Newcastle On Tyne St 42 3.09x
Stirling 42 5.13x
Battersea 41 0.63x
Sheffield 41 0.74x
Westoe 41 1.38x
Mile End Old Town London 40 1.07x
Nottingham St Mary 39 0.64x
Sleat 39 31.16x
West Ham 39 0.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 810
Elizabeth 320
Margaret 297
Jane 198
Sarah 196
Catherine 186
Ellen 186
Ann 181
Annie 128
Bridget 122
Eliza 101
Alice 75
Kate 64
Isabella 60
Emma 54
Hannah 49
Agnes 48
Anne 41
Martha 39
Maria 36
Emily 34
Julia 34
Harriet 29
Rose 29
Florence 28
Charlotte 26
Clara 26
Frances 26
Edith 22
Ada 20
Margret 20
Louisa 19
Lucy 19
Margt. 19
Susan 19
Amelia 18
Caroline 18
Eleanor 17
Amy 15
Fanny 15
Janet 15
Rebecca 15
Elizth. 14
Esther 14
Jessie 14
Katherine 13
Matilda 12
Dorothy 11
Johanna 11
Helen 10

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 782
James 467
William 402
Thomas 382
Patrick 160
George 153
Michael 139
Edward 117
Robert 112
Joseph 107
Henry 78
Charles 77
David 63
Peter 60
Richard 60
Alexander 47
Daniel 45
Wm. 42
Francis 33
Frederick 33
Hugh 33
Thos. 33
Arthur 32
Alfred 29
Samuel 29
Andrew 28
Martin 28
Walter 27
Albert 24
Frank 19
Matthew 17
Timothy 17
Robt. 14
Jas. 13
Mark 13
Archibald 12
Ernest 12
Stephen 12
Edwin 11
Harry 11
Dennis 10
Donald 10
Herbert 10
Bernard 9
Edmund 9
Geo. 9
Jno. 9
Mathew 7
Nicholas 7
Philip 7

Top occupations

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 Kennedy households.

FAQ

Kennedy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kennedy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 18,038 people were recorded with the Kennedy surname. That placed it at #208 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kennedy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 37,769 in 2016. That gives Kennedy a modern rank of #138.

What does the Kennedy surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from Ó Cinnéidigh, meaning "descendant of Cennétig," a given name composed of two elements meaning "head" and "ugly."

What does the Kennedy map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kennedy 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.