Show ContentsKennon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Kennon come from when the family resided in the township of Kenyon found in the parish of Winwick in the county of Lancashire. 1

Early Origins of the Kennon family

The surname Kennon was first found in Lancashire where Lord Kenyon's family are descended from the Kenyons of Peele and their surname is doubtless derived from the township of Kenyon in that shire. 2

"Early mention is made of a family of the local name, and also of the Lauton family, of whom Jordan de Lauton, in the reign of Edward I., assumed the name of Kenyon. Kenyon Hall, the original residence of the Kenyons, was rebuilt in the 17th century, and is the property of the earl [of Wilton]. " 1

Lowton in Lancashire "gave name to a family who subsequently adopted the surname of Kenyon from their possessions in a neighbouring township." 1

Early History of the Kennon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kennon research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1812, 1848 and 1869 are included under the topic Early Kennon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kennon Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Kennon has been recorded under many different variations, including Kenyon, Kenion, Kennion and others.

Early Notables of the Kennon family

More information is included under the topic Early Kennon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kennon Ranking

In the United States, the name Kennon is the 6,805th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3

Ireland Migration of the Kennon family to Ireland

Some of the Kennon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Kennon migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Kennon or a variant listed above:

Kennon Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Georg Kennon, who landed in Virginia in 1639 4
  • John Kennon, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 4
  • Richard Kennon, who arrived in Virginia in 1670 4
  • Sarah Kennon, who landed in Maryland in 1674 4
  • Edward Kennon, who arrived in Virginia in 1695 4
Kennon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Kennon, who landed in Virginia in 1702 4
  • William Kennon, who arrived in Virginia in 1730 4
  • Robert Kennon, who arrived in Virginia in 1785 4
Kennon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Bernart Kennon, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 4
  • Patrick Kennon, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 4
  • Michael Kennon, who landed in Mobile County, Ala in 1842 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Kennon (post 1700) +

  • Francis Edward "Ed" Kennon Jr. (b. 1938), American multi-millionaire Shreveport real-estate developer
  • Robert "Bob" Floyd Kennon Sr. (1902-1988), American politician, 48th Governor of Louisiana (1952 to 1956)
  • Wilson Shannon Kennon (1826-1895), American Republican politician
  • Lyman Walter Vere Kennon (1858-1918), career United States military officer
  • William Kennon Jr. (1802-1867), American lawyer, judge, and a U.S. Representative from Ohio
  • Kevin Kennon (b. 1958), American architect
  • Neil Sandilands "Sandy" Kennon (1933-2015), South African professional footballer and amateur cricketer
  • Vice Admiral Sir James Edward Campbell Kennon (1925-1991), British Royal Navy officer, Chief of Fleet Support
  • Robert Kennon Hargrove (1829-1905), American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South


The Kennon 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: Magnanimiter crucem sustine
Motto Translation: Sustain the cross (i.e. support afflictions) with magnanimity.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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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