Kennedy surname meaning
An Irish and Scottish Gaelic patronymic from Ó Cinnéidigh or Mac Cinnèidigh, descendant or son of Cinnédidh.
Confidence: Disputed. More than one origin is plausible, or sources disagree. We show the conflict rather than pick a cute answer.
The short story
Kennedy is an anglicized Gaelic patronymic. Irish Ó Cinnéidigh means “descendant of Cinnédidh,” while Scottish Gaelic Mac Cinnèidigh expresses a son-of relationship. Explanations of the older personal name vary: proposed elements include ceann, “head,” and éidigh, variously glossed in historical discussions. Irish and Scottish Kennedy families also developed separately, so the shared spelling does not identify one founder or one clan. O’Kennedy and Kennedie are familiar variants, and Gaelic forms may survive in older records. Parent’s name is the best broad type, but disputed confidence is more honest than presenting the older gloss as settled.
Also seen as: O'Kennedy, Kennedie, Mac Cinnèidigh, Cinneidigh
- Wikipedia “Kennedy (surname)” (Ó Cinnéidigh and Scottish Gaelic traditions)
- FamilySearch surname meaning for Kennedy (Irish and Scottish Gaelic patronymic)
- Names2020_LastNames_RaceHispanic_Top1000.xlsx (2020 Census)