Kennedy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Kennedy

What does the name Kennedy mean?

The saga of the name Kennedy begins with a Strathclyde-Briton family in the ancient Scottish/English Borderlands. It is 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.

Kennedy Coat of Arms Creation

The 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 Kennedy family

The surname Kennedy 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 Kennedy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kennedy 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 Kennedy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kennedy Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were hardly exact sciences in Medieval Scotland. Sound, rather than any set of rules, was the basis for spellings, so one name was often spelled different ways even within a single document. Spelling variations are thus an extremely common occurrence in Medieval Scottish names. Kennedy has been spelled Kennedy, Kannady, Kenardy, Kennaday, Kenneday, Kenneyday, Kennediem, MacKennedy, MacUalraig (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the Kennedy family

Notable 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 (d. 1527)
Gilbert Kennedy, 3rd Earl of Cassilis (1515-1558)
Gilbert Kennedy, 4th Earl of Cassilis (c. 1541-1576)
John Kennedy, 5th Earl of Cassilis (c. 1573-1615)
John Kennedy, 6th Earl of Cassilis, PC (d. 1668), a Scottish peer

Kennedy World Ranking

In the United Kingdom, the name Kennedy is the 131^st most popular surname with an estimated 38,674 people with that name. 3 However, in Australia, the name Kennedy is ranked the 70^th most popular surname with an estimated 33,714 people with that name. 4 And in New Zealand, the name Kennedy is the 98^th popular surname with an estimated 4,038 people with that name. 5 Canada ranks Kennedy as 82^nd with 30,952 people. 6 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Kennedy as 36^th with 600 people. 7 The United States ranks Kennedy as 137^th with 166,629 people. 8

Migration of the Kennedy family to Ireland

Some of the Kennedy 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.

Kennedy migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Kennedy Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Ann Kennedy, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9

Kennedy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Kennedy, Irish convict who was convicted in Meath, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Dennis Kennedy, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. James Kennedy, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Robert Kennedy, British convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
William Henry Kennedy, English convict from Kent, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kennedy migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Kennedy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Mark Kennedy, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Donald Kennedy, who landed in Kawakawa, New Zealand in 1840
J Kennedy, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841
Thomas Kennedy, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Lady Nugent
Margaret Kennedy, aged 24, a servant, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kennedy migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kennedy Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Kennedy Patrick U.E. born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA from Maryland, USA who settled in Parr Town [Saint John], New Brunswick c. 1783 he was a passenger aboard the ship Martha which wrecked before arriving at Saint John 13
Mr. Kennedy William U.E. (b. 1753) born in Somerset, Maryland, USA who settled in Sunbury County, New Brunswick c. 1783 then in 1799 Whitchurch, King township [Aurora] Ontario he enlisted in 1776 serving in the Queens Own Loyal Virginia Regiment and Prince of Wales Regiment under Captain Daniel Lyman 13
Mr. Kennedy Charles U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 191 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA 13
Mr. Kennedy David U.E. who settled in Parr Town [Saint John], New Brunswick c. 1784 13
Mr. Kennedy John U.E. who settled in Parr Town [Saint John], New Brunswick c. 1784 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kennedy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Donald Kennedy, aged 45, a farmer, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia aboard the ship "Commerce" in 1803
Margaret Kennedy, aged 35, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia aboard the ship "Commerce" in 1803
Janet Kennedy, aged 10, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia aboard the ship "Commerce" in 1803
John Kennedy, aged 8, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia aboard the ship "Commerce" in 1803
Robert Kennedy, aged 6, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia aboard the ship "Commerce" in 1803
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kennedy migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kennedy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Catherine Kennedy, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 14
David Kennedy, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 14

Kennedy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Margaret Kennedy, who landed in Virginia in 1716 14
David Kennedy, who arrived in Boston in 1737
Janette Kennedy, who landed in Connecticut in 1741 14
Darby Kennedy, who arrived in America in 1742
Matthew Kennedy, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1747 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kennedy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Peter Kennedy, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1802 14
Gilbert Kennedy, who arrived in Ohio in 1804 14
Hector Kennedy, who settled in Philadelphia in 1806
Rachel Kennedy, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 14
Dennis Kennedy, aged 48, who arrived in New York in 1812 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Kennedy (post 1700) +

Robert Kennedy (1937-2025), Scottish footballer (1957-1973), managerial (1969-1978)
Sir Ludovic Henry Coverley Kennedy FRSL (1919-2009), Scottish journalist, broadcaster, humanist and author
Ian Kennedy (1932-2022), Scottish artist from Dundee, Scotland who worked for D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd, then later for Amalgamated Press
Archibald Angus Charles Kennedy (1956-2015), 8th Marquess of Ailsa, 19th Earl of Cassilis, 21st Lord Kennedy, 8th Baron Ailsa, a Scottish peer, Chief of Clan Kennedy
Alison Louise Kennedy (b. 1965), Scottish writer of novels, short stories and non-fiction
James Kennedy (1928-1968), Scottish novelist
Michael Kennedy (1935-2025), Irish hurler and Gaelic footballer
Robert F Kennedy (1925-1968), American politician, brother of John F. Kennedy, posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024
Ethel Kennedy (1928-2024), née Skakel, American human rights advocate, widow of Robert F. Kennedy
Henry Mark Kennedy (1952-2024), American jurist who served as Associate Justice on the Alabama Supreme Court from 1989 to 1999
... (Another 43 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Kennedy family +

Halifax Explosion

Master William David Kennedy (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15
Mrs. Florence D. Kennedy (1888-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15
Mrs. Hilda M. Kennedy (1900-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15
Master James Clifford Kennedy (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Robert John Kennedy (1920-1941), Australian Stoker 2nd Class from Long Jetty, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 16

HMS Cornwall

Samuel Kennedy (d. 1942), British Chief Engineer Room Artificer aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 17
George Raymond Kennedy (d. 1942), British Ordinary Seaman aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 17

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Lance Kennedy (d. 2005), "Ken" British 1st Class Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales and survived the sinking 18
Mr. Thomas Kennedy, British Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 18

HMS Repulse

Mr. George Kennedy, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 19
Mr. Anthony James Kennedy, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 19

HMS Royal Oak

William Thomas Kennedy (1913-1939), British Petty Officer with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 20
Richard Hamilton Kennedy (d. 1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 20

RMS Lusitania

Mr. John Kennedy, English Extra Fourth Baker from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 21
Mr. John Kennedy, English Trimmer from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 21
Mr. John James Kennedy, English Trimmer from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 21
Mrs. Caroline Carrie Kennedy, American 1st Class Passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 21

RMS Titanic

Mr. John Joseph Kennedy, aged 24, Irish Third Class passenger from Watergate, Limerick who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 15 22

SS Southern Cross

Mr. Samuel Kennedy (1893-1914), Newfoundlander from Seal Cove who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found

St. Francis Dam

Mr. Alva Thomas Kennedy, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
Mrs. Reb M. Kennedy, (nee Connell), American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
Mr. Evelyn Pauline Kennedy, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
Mr. Charles Eugene Kennedy, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

USS Indianapolis

Andrew Jackson Kennedy Jr., American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 23
Robert Arthur Kennedy, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 23

The Kennedy Motto +

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.

Citations +

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)
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
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
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)
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew