Kennedy Family Tree research resources

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Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 18056 people with the Kennedy surname? In that year Kennedy was ranked number 205 for popularity in the UK.

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"The chief of the clan. Duncan de Carrick living in 1153, was father of Nichol de Carrick, whose son, Roland de Carrick, temp. Alexander III, took the name of Kennedy, and was the ancestor of the family. "_{(The origin and signification of Scottish surnames. Clifford Stanley Sims, 1862)}

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"KENNEDY. Sir Andrew Agnew says (i, p. 33) that the "first appearance of a Kennedy in Galloway" is in 1034, when "Suibhne mac Cinaeda ri Gallgaidhel" is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster. This, however, is an error. MacCinaeda is not MacKennedy but MacKeima. The earliest Kennedy recorded in Scotland appears to be Gilbert mac Kenedi, who witnessed a charter by Raderic Mac Gillescop of lands in Carrie to the Abbey of Melrose early in the reign of King William the Lion (Melros, i, p. 29). Henry Kennedy or MacKenede is named in 1185 as one of the leaders and instigators of rebellion in Galloway, and is stated to have fallen in battle (Fordun, Annals, xvi). Gillescop MacKenedi, senescallus de Karric, is twice in record in the reign of Alexander n (Melros, i, p. 171), and Gillecrist filius Kenedi witnessed a grant of lands in the same district within the same period (ibid., p. 172). Maldouen Macenedy or Mackenedi appears as charter witness in the Lennox c. 1240-8 (Lennox, n, p. 7). Hugh and Murdoch Mackenedy served as jurors on an inquest made at Gerwan (Girvan) in 1260 (Bain, i, 2674), and the latter, as Murthan MacKenede, witnessed a charter of the church of Maybothel in Carrick before 1250 (CMN., p. 15). Fergus Makenedy who rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the sheriff of Ayr, 1266 (ER., i, p. 34), may be the ffergus mac Kenedi who witnessed John Cumyne's grant of a right of way by his wood and the bridge of the black ford called in Scots Athebethy to the monastery of Inchaffray in 1278 ( (Inchaffray, p. 100), and c. 1285 witnessed another charter by Alexander de Dunhon of the land of Arachor to Sir Patrick de Graham (Montrose, p. 186). Alexander MacKennedy who appears as a charter witness between 1230-70 (RMP., p. 134, 137, 138) is probably Master Alexander Kenedi (without 'Mac'), canon of Glasgow, c. 1272-83 (ibid., p. 53, 127), and as Magister Alexander Kenedy, charter witness in Glasgow, c. 1290 (REG., p. 200). As dominus Alexander Kennedy, canon of Glasgow, he rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, n, p. 194). Sir Hugh Kennedy possessed lands in Lanarkshire in 1296 (Rot. Scot., i, p. 29b), and as Huwe Kenedy rendered homage for them in the same year. His seal bears a garb, four pellets on either side, S' Hueonis Kinnedi (Bain, n, p. 203, 544). Sir Malcolm Kenedy was camerarius Scocie in 1338 (SCM., v, p. 244), and Gilbert McKenedy witnessed a charter by John, earl of Carrick of lands in the lordship of Kyle in the reign of Robert n ( (Melros, n, p. 453). John Kennedy of Dunure was captain of the clan Muintircasduff about 1346 (RMS., i, p. 574). John Kennedye witnessed a charter oy Robert n to Duncan, earl of Leuenax in 1384 (Levenax, p. 8), and in 1393 there is confirmation of the lands of Buchmonyn in the earldom of Levenax to John Kennyde, son of Fergus Kennyde (ibid., p. 44). Donald Kenedi attested a charter by Stephen Flemyng, master of the Hospital of Soltre, 1426 (Soltre, p. 52). Gilbert Kennedy of Bargany in 1464 had a charter of the 25s. land of Coffe, and the lands of Kellolie in the parish of Sanct Michaelis Muntercasduff, etc., from Gilbert Kennedy of Cullean (Culzean) (Paterson, Ayr, n, p. 347). This charter is interesting as showing that the lands of Kirkmichael belonged of old to the clan Muntercasduff. The name early made its way to the northeast. Duncan Kennedy was provost of Aberdeen, 1321-2, Peter Kyneidy was burgess there, 1333-42 (REA., I, p. 54, 72), David Kynidy, bailie in 1376 (ER., n, p. 542), and Thomas Kennedy was infeft in the ownership of Auchorthies, 1390 (Banchory-Devenick, p. 158). A family of Kennedys held the lands of Kermuck in Aberdeenshire for several generations. The Moray Kennedys, it is believed, came north with the possession of the earldom of Moray by Janet Kennedy and her son by James rv. This branch is known as Ceannaideach. In Arran the Kennedys are in the Gaelic of the island M'Cmixachainn or possibly M" Rusachainn, a name which awaits explanation." The Kennedys of Lochaber are the ones known as M"WALRICK (Gaelic MacUalraig), q.v. Symson in his Large description of Gallpway (written c. 1660) gives an old rhyme descriptive of the power of the Kennedys: "Twixt Wigton and the toun of Air, Portpatrick and the Cruives of Cree, No man needs think for to bide there, Unless he court with Kennedie." The modern Gaelic form of the name is Ceannaideach, IT. Cinnciiliilh. from earlier Cinneide or Cinneidigh, Mid. Irish Cendetig (Book of Leinster, fol. 150b20), literally "uglv headed" (Kuno Meyer) or "grim headed' (Watson i, p. 409). Cf. the Gaelic name of Loch Etive, Loch Eitigh, "ugly, horrid loch," (from name of the goddess of the loch) Watson i, p. 46. Canedie 1420, Kanide 1526, Kanydi 1521, Kenadie 1558, Kenate 1575, Kendy 1439, Kendye 1562, Keneby and Kenedy 1462, Keneidy 1342, Kenide 1535, Kennadee 1450, Kennatie and Kennaty 1567, Kennerty 1487, Kennetie and Kennety 1583, Kennetye 1566, Kennide 1500, Kennite 1538, Kennyde 1520, Kennydy and Kinydy 1486, Kenyde 1477, Kinnerty 1493, and among the Scots Guards in France Carnede. "_{(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)}

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