| ![Show Contents]() Kenedy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland
Etymology of KenedyWhat does the name Kenedy mean? The name Kenedy was first used by a Strathclyde-Briton family from the Scottish/English Borderlands. It was a name for a dour or serious person. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Gaelic nickname Cinneididh, which translates as grim-headed. It is doubtful that there is any ancient relationship between the Irish Kennedys and the Scottish Clan. The Irish Kennedy's history dates back to about 900 AD, and there did not appear to be any direct relationship between the two families. However, in the 16th century, a sept of the Scottish Kennedy Clan did develop in Ulster, but they are undoubtedly migrants from Scotland, and had no previous link to the southern Irish Kennedys. Kenedy Coat of Arms CreationThe crest of the Clan Kennedy is a swimming dolphin, and Dauphin, the name given to the eldest son of the French kings, is a pun. The dolphin in heraldry is represented as the king of fishes, strong and swift in pursuing other fish, a lover of men and music, and was used to convey the idea of sovereignty. It is said that Ulysses carried a dolphin on his shield and signet ring, because that fish saved his son Telemachus when he fell into the sea. David, the son of Sir Gilbert Kennedy, was one of the retinue which attended Margaret of Scotland on her marriage to the Dauphin in 1436, in honour of which the alteration may have been made to the supporters and crest. One of the family became Joan of Arc's most trussed generals, and it may have been because of this that the pun was made, dolphin for Dauphin. 1 Early Origins of the Kenedy familyThe surname Kenedy was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where the earliest record of them dates from 1185, during the reign of King William the Lion, when a Henry Kennedy was reported to have been involved in a rebellion in Galloway but died in battle. The Kennedys derived from a branch of Celtic Earls of Galloway (not to be confused with Gallway, which is in Ireland). Their power and influence in that region was great. In fact, there is a rhyme handed down through clansmen and bards from the year 1300 which runs as follows: 'Twixt Wigtown and the town of Ayr, Portpatrick and the Cruives of Cree. No man need think to bide there, unless he court with Kennedy.' 2 Early History of the Kenedy familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kenedy research. Another 246 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1170, 1296, 1406, 1437, 1451, 1480, 1508, 1509, 1513, 1515, 1527, 1541, 1558, 1573, 1576, 1615, 1646, 1653, 1668, 1701 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kenedy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kenedy Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Kenedy has been spelled Kennedy, Kannady, Kenardy, Kennaday, Kenneday, Kenneyday, Kennediem, MacKennedy, MacUalraig (Gaelic) and many more. Early Notables of the Kenedy familyNotable amongst the family at this time was Gilbert Kennedy, 1st Lord Kennedy (c. 1406-c. 1480); John Kennedy, 2nd Lord Kennedy (1451-1508); David Kennedy, 3rd Lord Kennedy (d. 1513) (created Earl of Cassilis in 1509); David Kennedy, 1st Earl of Cassilis (d. 1513); Gilbert Kennedy, 2nd Earl of Cassilis...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kenedy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Kenedy family to IrelandSome of the Kenedy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Kenedy migration to the United States | + |
Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them:
Kenedy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Teage Kenedy, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 3
Kenedy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Malcolm Kenedy, who landed in South Carolina in 1716 3
Kenedy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Margaret Kenedy, aged 25, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1803 3
- Emelia Kenedy, aged 6, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1803 3
- Peter Kenedy, aged 27, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1803 3
- Robert Kenedy, aged 28, who arrived in New York in 1812 3
- Edward Kenedy, aged 23, who landed in New York in 1812 3
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Kenedy migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Kenedy Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- David Kenedy, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
- Morris Kenedy, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
- Mr. Kenedy Alexander U.E., "Kennedy" who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 4
Kenedy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Honour Kenedy, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1821
- Mary McDonnell Kenedy, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1823
- Michael Kenedy, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1824
- Patrick Kenedy, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1828
- William Kenedy, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1834
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Avise la fin
Motto Translation: Consider the end.
- Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
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