| ![Show Contents]() Kenzie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
Etymology of KenzieWhat does the name Kenzie mean? The Clan from whom the Kenzie family descends began among the ancient Dalriadan kingdom of the west coast of Scotland. Their name comes from the personal name Coinneach. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Coinnich or Mac Choinnich, both of which mean son of Coinneach. However, In Adamnan, the Gaelic form of the name is Cainnechus, which is derived from the word cann, meaning fair or bright; thus, the surname is of the 'nickname' variety in this case. Kenzie Coat of Arms CreationThe Mackenzies have a deer's head for their crest, and the Gaelic motto, " Cuidich an Righ " (Help the King), alleged to have been given under the following circumstances: The founder of the family, Colin Fitzgerald, who was reputed to be an Irish adventurer, was, in 1265, with his sovereign, Alexander III., hunting in the forest of Mar, when a stag, pursued by the hounds, made straight for the King. The brave Colin interposed his own person between His Majesty and the infuriated animal, shot the stag in the forehead, and in gratitude he was granted the right to use as his armorial bearings a stag's head bleeding where the arrow pierced it, with two greyhounds as supporters. The incident of the hunt was painted by B. West for the last of the Seaforths. The artist received £800 for the noble picture, which is still preserved in Brahan Castle. According to Nisbet their crest was a sun in its splendour, and the motto, " Luceo non uro " (I shine but I do not burn), which motto is now on the beautiful old furniture in Brahan Castle; but neither the above crest nor motto is shown in Burke's Peerage. 1 Early Origins of the Kenzie familyThe surname Kenzie was first found in Ross-shire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Rois) a former county, now part of the Council Areas of Highland and Western Isles in Northern Scotland, which emerged from the Gaelic lordship of the Earl of Ross, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. Early History of the Kenzie familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kenzie research. Another 192 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1278, 1561, 1568, 1569, 1594, 1611, 1630, 1635, 1636, 1651, 1662, 1677, 1678, 1688, 1691, 1714, 1715, 1771 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kenzie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kenzie Spelling VariationsHistorical recordings of the name Kenzie include many spelling variations. They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. They include MacKenzie, McKenzie, Kennethson, Kenneth, Kennieson, MacCoinnich (Gaelic), MacWhinnie, MacWhinny, MacWhinney and many more. Early Notables of the Kenzie familyNotable amongst the Clan from early times was - John Mackenzie (died c. 1561), or "John of Killin", traditionally reckoned 9th of Kintail, a Highland chief
- Kenneth Mackenzie (died 1568), 10th of Kintail and nicknamed Coinneach na Cuirc (or "Kenneth of the Whittle"), a Highland chief
- Colin Mackenzie of Kintail (died 1594), nicknamed "Cam" ("crooked", because one-eyed), a Highland chief
- Kenneth Mackenzie, the first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail (c.1569-1611), a Highland Clan chief
- George Mackenzie, 2nd Earl of Seaforth (died 1651), a Highland clan chief and Scottish nobleman
- Kenneth Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Seaforth (1635-1678), a Highland clan chief and Scottish nobleman
- Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh (1636-1691), known as Bluidy Mackenzie, a Scottish lawyer, Lord Advocate
- Murdoch MacKenzie (died 1688), Scottish minister and prelate, Bishop of Moray (1662-1677) and Orkney (1677-1688)
Migration of the Kenzie family to IrelandSome of the Kenzie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Kenzie migration to the United States | + |
Significant portions of the populations of both the United States and Canada are still made up of the ancestors of Dalriadan families. Some of those in Canada originally settled the United States, but went north as United Empire Loyalists in the American War of Independence. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the ancestors of many Scots on both sides of the border begin to recover their collective national heritage through Clan societies and highland games. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:
Kenzie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Alex Kenzie, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 2
- John Kenzie, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 2
- Philip Kenzie, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 2
- Ralph Kenzie, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 2
- J Kenzie, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1822 2
| Kenzie migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Kenzie Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- William Kenzie, a shipwright, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
- John Kenzie, a baker, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
| Contemporary Notables of the name Kenzie (post 1700) | + |
- James Kenzie (b. 1986), stage name of James Victor MacKenzie, English rapper, DJ and personal trainer
- Kenzie Sconce, American actress, director and writer, known for The Girl on the Mountain (2022)
- Kenzie MacNeil (1952-2021), Canadian songwriter, performer, producer and director in television, film, radio and stage, and a former Conservative Party of Canada candidate
- Kenzie MacNeil (1952-2021), Canadian songwriter, performer, producer and director in television, film, radio and stage, and a former Conservative Party of Canada candidate
| Kenzie Motto and War Cry | + |
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: Luceo non uro
Motto Translation: I shine not burn.
War Cry: "Tullaich Ard."
- Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
- 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)
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