Kenna History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

Ireland

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The original Gaelic form of Kenna was Mac Cionaoith.

Early Origins of the Kenna family

The surname Kenna was first found in County Monaghan (Irish: Muineachán) located in the Northern part of the Republic of Ireland in the province of Ulster, at Truagh where they were known as the Lords of Truagh.

Early History of the Kenna family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kenna research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1544 is included under the topic Early Kenna History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kenna Spelling Variations

The Middle Ages saw a great number of spelling variations for surnames common to the Irish landscape. One reason for these variations is the fact that surnames were not rigidly fixed by this period. The following variations for the name Kenna were encountered in the archives: MacKenna, MacKennagh, MacKenney, MacKenny, MacKinna, MacKinnie and many more.

Early Notables of the Kenna family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

General John MacKenna

Kenna Ranking

In the United States, the name Kenna is the 15,462^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Kenna migration to the United States +

Death and immigration greatly reduced Ireland's population in the 19th century. For the native Irish people poverty, hunger, and racial prejudice was common. Therefore, thousands left their homeland to seek opportunity in North America. Those who survived the journey and the quarantine camps to which they arrived, were instrumental towards building the strong developing nations of the United States and the future Canada. By far, the largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These were employed as construction or factory workers. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name Kenna:

Kenna Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

A R Kenna, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1813 2
Patrick Kenna, aged 40, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 2
Hugh Kenna, aged 30, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1834 2
Edward Martin Kenna, who arrived in Mississippi in 1840 2
Edward Kenna, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kenna migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kenna Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Emma Kenna, aged 8, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Providence" from Cork, Ireland
Michael Kenna, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Breeze" from Dublin, Ireland
Margaret Kenna, aged 19, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Breeze" from Dublin, Ireland
Matthew Kenna, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Neptune" in 1834
Mrs. Mary Kenna, aged 25 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Jessie" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kenna migration to Australia +

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

Kenna Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Kenna, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
Miss Margaret Kenna, (Kenner), (b. 1802), aged 27, Irish needle woman who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Edward" on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as having 1 child 5
Miss Mary Kenna, (b. 1826), aged 3, Irish settler traveling with convict Miss Margaret Kenna, transported aboard the "Edward" on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
John Kenna, aged 28, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Escort"

Kenna migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Kenna Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. E. Kenna, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1868 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Kenna (post 1700) +

Michael Kenna (1857-1946), Chicago politician
John E. Kenna (1848-1893), West Virginia politician
Doug Kenna (b. 1924), American football player
Joseph Norris Kenna (1888-1950), American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Kanawha County, 1931-32; Judge of West Virginia supreme court of appeals, 1933-50 7
John F. Kenna (d. 1998), American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly 33rd District, 1968 7
John Edward Kenna (1848-1893), American Democratic Party politician, Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney, 1872-77; U.S. Representative from West Virginia 3rd District, 1877-83; U.S. Senator from West Virginia, 1883-93 7
Frank T. Kenna (1874-1947), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from New Haven, 1911-12 7
Frank Kenna (1895-1964), American Republican politician, Member of New York Republican State Committee, 1930-36, 1961; Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964 7
Francis M. Kenna, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Queens County 1st District, 1920 7
Bruce Kenna, American politician, U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire, 1984-85 7
... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)