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Kilkenny Family History

Kilkenny Surname Meaning

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Chainnigh ‘son of the servant (or devotee) of (Saint) Cainneach’ (often Anglicized Canice).

See also McElhinney.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kilkenny family from?

You can see how Kilkenny families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kilkenny family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kilkenny families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 70 Kilkenny families living in Lancashire. This was about 32% of all the recorded Kilkenny's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Kilkenny families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kilkenny surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Kilkenny ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Kilkenny. 25% of Kilkenny men worked as a Bricklayer and 74% of Kilkenny women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kilkenny were Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic Services.

View Census Data for Kilkenny | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Bricklayer
    25%
  • Builders Labourer
    25%
  • General Labourer Retired
    13%
  • Incapacitated
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic Services
    3%

What Kilkenny family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Kilkenny. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kilkenny census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kilkenny

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Kilkenny. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kilkenny immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Kilkenny. For the veterans among your Kilkenny ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kilkenny military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kilkenny family history

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What is the average Kilkenny lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Kilkenny life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Kilkenny in 1950 was 39, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kilkenny

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kilkenny ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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