Show ContentsKennrech History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Kennrech is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. Kennrech is a name that comes from the given name Kendrick.

Early Origins of the Kennrech family

The surname Kennrech was first found in Denbighshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Nantclwyd Woore. The name appears as Kenricus and Kenric in the Domesday Book in 1086. "The family of Kenrick of Nantclwyd Woore, co Denbigh, claim from David Kenrick who fought under the Black Prince at Creci and Poictiers." 1

Early History of the Kennrech family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kennrech research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1659 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Kennrech History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kennrech Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Kenrick, Kenric, Kennrick and others.

Early Notables of the Kennrech family

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

Ireland Migration of the Kennrech family to Ireland

Some of the Kennrech 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.

Migration of the Kennrech family

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Kennrech name or one of its variants: E. Kenrick who settled in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1823; John Kenrick settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1796.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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