Kennedy Family Crest and Name History

Text Size

Kennedy PDF Surname History


The Ancient History Of The Distinguished Surname Kennedy

Kennedy

Contents

Kennedy history with Kennedy Family Crest
Suggested Readings for Kennedy
Surname Notables

About Family Crests

Kennedy Products

Origins Available: Irish, Scottish

Where did the Irish Kennedy family come from? What is the Irish coat of arms/family crest? When did the Kennedy family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

The spelling and overall form of Irish names tend to vary widely over time. The original Gaelic form of the name Kennedy is O'Cinneide, which is derived from the words "ceann," which means "head," and "éidigh," which means "helmet."

One explanation for the many variations is that scribes and church officials frequently spelled the name as it sounded: an imprecise method at best. Understandably then, various spellings of the surname Kennedy were found in the many archives researched. These included Kennedy, Minagh, Kennady, O'Kennedy and others.

First found in county Tipperary.

Many Irish Families boarded ships bound for North America in the middle of 19th century to escape the conditions of poverty and racial discrimination at that time. Although these immigrants often arrived in a destitute state, they went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. An inquiry into many immigration and passenger lists has revealed many early immigrants to North America bearing the Kennedy family name: Teage O'Kenedy, who arrived in Virginia in 1666; Ffergos Kenedey, a Scotch-Irish settler in New England in 1718; David Kennedy, who arrived in Boston in 1737.

For more information on the last name Kennedy, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.

Suggested Readings for the name Kennedy

Alford-Kennedy Family History by Eileen Alford.
Ancestors and Kin by Mary Kennedy Reynolds.

Some noteworthy people of the name Kennedy

Alan Kennedy, American film actor
Arthur Kennedy, American Actor
Robert F Kennedy (1925-1968), American politician, brother of John F. Kennedy
George Kennedy (b. 1925), American actor
Edward Kennedy (1932-2009), American Politician, U.S. Senator
Eugene Kennedy, American Biochemist
Gerald Kennedy, American, Methodist Bishop
President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963), 35th American president of the United States
Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr. (1915-1944), American aviator posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal
William Joseph Kennedy (b. 1928), American writer and journalist awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1984
Eamonn Kennedy, Irish Diplomat
A L Kennedy, Scottish novelist
Adam Kennedy, Major League Baseball player
Anthony M Kennedy, US Supreme Court Associate Justice
Archibald Kennedy (1794-1832), Earl of Cassilis, a Scottish Peer
Thomas Alexander Kennedy, Economist
James Kennedy (1928-1968), Scottish novelist

Tell Me More About Family Crests

Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist

We have researched the Kennedy family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

More

Family Crests: Timeline

Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

More

Family Crests: Elements

In the Kennedy coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

More

Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate

We encourage you to study the Kennedy genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

More

Kennedy Family Crest Products

Anniversary

Anniversary products for the name Kennedy.

Apparel

Apparel with a Kennedy family crest.

Armorial histories

Armorial histories for the name Kennedy.

Ceramics

Ceramics with the coat of arms for the name Kennedy.

Clip art

Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.

Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms for the name Kennedy.

Downloads

Downloads showing the Kennedy family crest.

Family Crest

Family Crest for the name Kennedy.

Family Tree

Family Tree with a Kennedy family crest.

Hand Painted Plaques

Hand Painted Plaques displaying the family crest for the name Kennedy.

Keychains

Keychains displaying the family crest for the name Kennedy.

Mouse pads

Mouse pads emphasing the Kennedy family crest.

New Products

New Products emphasing the Kennedy family crest.

Packages

Packages revealing the Kennedy family crest.

Plaques and Frames

Plaques and Frames displaying the family crest for the name Kennedy.

Surname Histories

Surname Histories for the name Kennedy.

Symbolism

Symbolism revealing the Kennedy family crest.

Travel Mugs

Travel Mugs featuring the family crest for the surname Kennedy.

Popular Products
	Armorial History With Coat of Arms
	Coat of Arms & Surname History Package
	Family Crest Image (jpg) Heritage Series - 300 DPI
	Key-chain
	Coffee Mug
	Armorial History with Frame
	Framed Surname History and Coat of Arms

The Kennedy Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Kennedy Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.