Kennedy (surname)

Kennedy, alternately O'Kennedy and Kennedie, is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin that has also been used as a given name.

Kennedy
Pronunciation/ˈkɛnɪdi/
Language(s)Gaelic, Irish
Origin
MeaningDerived either from Ó Cinnéide meaning grandson of Cinnédidh, or “ceann” and “éidigh”. “Caenn” comes from the Gaelic word meaning “chieftain” (a leader of a clan or tribe), and “éidigh” comes from the Gaelic word meaning “helmet”. The name can be translated to mean “helmeted chief or leader”.
Region of originIreland and Scotland
Other names
Related namesO'Kennedy and Kennedie

Origins

There have been several different etymologies given for the surname. One is that the name is an Anglicisation of Ó Cinnéide, meaning "grandson of Cinnédidh" or "grandson of Cinnéidigh", with both of these personal names meaning "helmet headed."[1] Ceanéidigh could be related to the old Gaelic name Cennétig, which is known from Cennétig mac Lorcáin, the father of the Irish high king Brian mac Cennétig, who himself was also known as Brian Bóruma or Brian Boru. There are also an Irish Kennedy family and a Scottish Kennedy clan of Carrick in Ayrshire, which are unrelated to one another. Another possibility is that Kennedy is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic Ó Ceannéidigh meaning "grandson of Ceannéidigh". Ceannéidigh is a given name derived from the Gaelic words ceann, meaning "head", and éidigh, meaning "ugly" or "fierce".[2] In some etymologies, the element ceann is given as "chief" or "leader".[3]

Name lists

In arts and entertainment

In politics and government

Members of the US Kennedy political family
Main article: Kennedy family

Other Kennedys involved in politics

In sports

In other fields

See also

References
  1. Neafsey, Edward (2002). The Surnames of Ireland: Origins and Numbers of Selected Irish Surnames. Irish Roots Cafe. p. 117. ISBN 0-940134-97-7.
  2. "Kennedy Name Meaning and History". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  3. Harrison, Henry; Harrison, Gyda (1996). Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 246. ISBN 0-8063-0171-6.
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