Show ContentsKermode History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Kermode family

The surname Kermode was first found in Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat as the O'Carmody, Chiefs of Ireland. Irish history was greatly influenced by the Norman invasion of 1172, and thereafter, the surnames of Irish Gaelic clanns and septs and many of the Norman families became almost indistinguishable. This family name was found later in South Munster and in Galway.

Early History of the Kermode family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kermode research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1888 is included under the topic Early Kermode History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kermode Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Carmody, Kermody, O'Carmody, O'Kermody and others.

Early Notables of the Kermode family

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


United States Kermode migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kermode Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Kermode, aged 28, who landed in Missouri in 1842 [1]
  • William Kermode, who arrived in Missouri in 1842
  • Walter Kermode, who arrived in Allegheny Co. Pennsylvania in 1894
Kermode Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Emma Jane Kermode, aged 36, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Baltic" from Liverpool, England [2]
  • George Moore Kermode, aged 10, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Baltic" from Liverpool, England [2]
  • Thomas Kermode, aged 49, arrived in New York, N. Y. in 1919 aboard the ship "Orduna" from Liverpool, England [2]

Australia Kermode migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Kermode Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Kermode, British convict who was convicted in Isle of Man for life, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 12th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [3]
  • Mr. John Kermode, British convict who was convicted in Castle Rushen, Isle of Man for 10 years, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 11th March 1863, arriving in Western Australia, Australia [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Kermode (post 1700) +

  • Frank Kermode, Canadian former director of the Royal B.C. Museum, eponym of the Kermode bear, also known as the "spirit bear," is a rare subspecies of the American black bear living in British Columbia
  • William A. Kermode MC (1895-1959), Australian artist, best known for illustrating Henry Williamson's The Patriot's Progress in 1930
  • Robert Quayle Kermode (1812-1870), Manx-born, Australian politician in Tasmania, a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council and the Tasmanian House of Assembly
  • Philip Moore Callow "P. M. C." Kermode (b. 1855), Manx antiquarian and historian
  • Mark James Patrick Kermode (b. 1963), English film critic, presenter, writer, and musician
  • Josephine Kermode (1852-1937), Manx poet and playwright, better known by the pen name "Cushag"
  • Harry Kermode (1922-2009), Canadian basketball player who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics
  • Sir John Frank Kermode FBA (1919-2010), British literary critic, best known for his work, The Sense of an Ending: Studies in the Theory of Fiction
  • Derwent William Kermode (1898-1960), British diplomat
  • Chris Kermode (b. 1965), English former tennis player and current tennis administrator, President of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. 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)
  2. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  3. Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 28th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde


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