Kenrick is a northern European surname.
The surname Kenrick was first found in Denbighshire, Wales, where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Nantclwyd Woore. (The estates included Woore, Shropshire, Cerniogau and Nantclwyd.) [1]
The name appears as Kenricus and Kenric in the Domesday Book in 1086. "The family of Kenrick of Nantclwyd Woore, co Denbigh, claim from David Kenrick who fought under the Black Prince at Creci and Poictiers." [2] [3]
Kenrick has a number of possible etymologies with various derivations, depending on the country of origin. [4]
The Welsh personal name "Cyn(w)rig" or "Cynfrig" derived from the elements "cyn," a chief, and "(g)wr," a man, plus the suffix of quality "ig". In Scotland the surname originated from Machendrie or Mackendrick, which are Highland border names meaning "son of Henry". In Ireland, the surname is a variant of Enright, an Anglicized form of the Gaelic byname "Indreachtach," attacker. One, John Kerrych, is noted in the Calendar of Inquisitiones Post Mortem, Suffolk (1297). In England it derived from the Middle English given name "Cenric" or "Kendrich", from the Old English pre-7th century "Cyneric", composed of the elements "cyne," royal, and "ric," power. [4]
The Kenricks of east Denbighshire and the border trace their descent to Cynwrig ap Rhiwallon (died 1074), who claimed the lordship of Bromfield (Maelor Gymraeg) after the Welsh reconquest of the 11th century, and from whom the township of Cristionydd Kenrick (near Ruabon) is believed to take its name. [5]
In the modern idiom, the surname has numerous variant spellings including Kenrick, Kenwrick, Kerrich, Kerrage, and Kerrick. [4]
Notable people bearing the name include: