Kenyon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


Kenyon is a name whose history is connected to the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Kenyon family once lived in the township of Kenyon found in the parish of Winwick in the county of Lancashire. 1

Early Origins of the Kenyon family

The surname Kenyon 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 Kenyon family

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

Kenyon Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Kenyon family name include Kenyon, Kenion, Kennion and others.

Early Notables of the Kenyon family

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

Kenyon Ranking

In the United States, the name Kenyon is the 2,666th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Kenyon family to Ireland

Some of the Kenyon 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.


Kenyon migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Kenyon surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Kenyon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Kenyon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Kenyon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kenyon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Kenyon migration to Australia +

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

Kenyon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Kenyon 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:

Kenyon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Kenyon (post 1700) +


The Kenyon 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.


Suggested Readings for the name Kenyon +
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