Kenwood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancient roots of the Kenwood family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Kenwood comes from when the family lived in the settlement of Kenwood in Kenton in the county of Devon. The surname Kenwood belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Kenwood family

The surname Kenwood was first found in Gloucestershire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Kenwood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kenwood research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1086 and 1274 are included under the topic Early Kenwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kenwood 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 Kenwood has appeared include Kenwood, Kentwood, Kenward, Kentward, Kenswood and others.

Early Notables of the Kenwood family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Kenwardus of Kenwood

Kenwood 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 Kenwood arrived in North America very early:

Kenwood Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Tom Kenwood, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1867

Kenwood migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kenwood Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Charles Kenwood, who recorded in the census of Ontario, Canada of 1871

Contemporary Notables of the name Kenwood (post 1700) +

Ryan Kenwood Hollins (b. 1984), American professional basketball player