Kennedy

Patronymic

Meaning

Descendant of Cennétig, meaning ugly head or misshapen head.

Etymology

Derived from the Irish Ó Cinnéide, from the personal name Cennétig. The surname is associated with County Tipperary and County Wexford.

About the Kennedy Surname

Kennedy is a prominent Irish surname with medieval roots in Munster and Leinster. The name became well-known internationally through Irish emigration and the famous Kennedy political family.

Distribution & Frequency

Estimated 130,000 bearers in the United States #333 most common surname
Rare Common

Found throughout Ireland with concentrations in Munster and Leinster, particularly in County Tipperary and County Wexford.

Kennedy Surname Distribution

Geographic distribution based on Civil War military records.

Fewer
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People with the Kennedy Surname