Show ContentsKenrick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Kenrick family migrated to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The surname Kenrick is based on the given name Kendrick.

Early Origins of the Kenrick family

The surname Kenrick 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 Kenrick family

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

Kenrick Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Kenrick were recorded, including Kenrick, Kenric, Kennrick and others.

Early Notables of the Kenrick family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • David Kenrick of Denbighshire

Ireland Migration of the Kenrick family to Ireland

Some of the Kenrick 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.


United States Kenrick migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Kenrick arrived in North America very early:

Kenrick Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • George Kenrick, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1635 2
  • John Kenrick, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1639 2
Kenrick Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Kenrick, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1796
Kenrick Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • E. Kenrick who settled in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1823
  • Patrick Kenrick, who landed in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1844 2
  • James Kenrick, who arrived in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1848 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Kenrick (post 1700) +

  • Peter Richard Kenrick (1806-1896), American prelate, the first Catholic archbishop west of the Mississippi River
  • Francis Patrick Kenrick (1797-1863), American (Irish-born) Roman Catholic churchman, made Archbishop of Baltimore and apostolic delegate in 1851
  • William Kenrick (1795-1872), American nurseryman
  • Francis Kenrick (1796-1863), Roman Catholic bishop
  • Sir George Hamilton Kenrick (1850-1939), English entomologist
  • William Kenrick (1725-1779), English novelist, playwright, translator and satirist
  • John Kenrick (1788-1877), English classical historian
  • Jarvis Kenrick (1852-1949), English association footballer
  • Timothy Kenrick (1759-1804), Welsh commentator from Rushbon, Denbighshire
  • Sir Piers Kenrick Debenham (1904-1964), 2nd Baronet, English peer

RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Henry Kenrick, English Scullery man from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 3


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. 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)
  3. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


Houseofnames.com on Facebook