| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛnɪdi/ |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | Gaelic, Irish |
| Origin | |
| Meaning | Derived either from Ó Cinnéide meaning grandson of Cinnédidh, or “ceann” and “éidigh”. “Ceann” 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 origin | Ireland and Scotland |
| Other names | |
| Related names | O'Kennedy and Kennedie |
Kennedy, with variant forms O'Kennedy and Kennedie, is a surname of Irish origin that has also been used as a given name.
There have been several etymologies given for the surname. One is that the name is an Anglicisation of Ó Cinnéide, which means "grandson of Cinnédidh" or "grandson of Cinnéidigh". Both of these personal names are derived from Gaelic words 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 was also known as Brian Bóruma or Brian Boru. There is an Irish Kennedy family and a Scottish Kennedy clan in Carrick, 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] Some etymologies also suggest that the element ceann could mean "chief" or "leader". [3]
Media related to Kennedy (surname) at Wikimedia Commons