Kennyon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancient roots of the Kennyon family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Kennyon comes from when the family lived in the township of Kenyon found in the parish of Winwick in the county of Lancashire. 1

Early Origins of the Kennyon family

The surname Kennyon 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 Kennyon family

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

Kennyon Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Kennyon has appeared include Kenyon, Kenion, Kennion and others.

Early Notables of the Kennyon family

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

Migration of the Kennyon family to Ireland

Some of the Kennyon 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.

Kennyon migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Kennyon arrived in North America very early:

Kennyon Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Geo Kennyon, aged 25, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Thomas & John" 3
Jo Kennyon, aged 21, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Thomas & John" 3

The Kennyon 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.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)