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Kenneth Family History

Kenneth Surname Meaning

Scottish: now considered in Scotland as the Gaelic equivalent of the personal name Coinneach the name of an Irish saint generally Anglicized in Ireland as Canice. However, Kenneth was originally the Anglicized form of Gaelic Cionaodh (see McKinney) a personal name ultimately of Pictish origin.

Etymologically this surname is equivalent to Kenny (which can arise from either personal name) and McKenzie (which is from Coinneach).

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 Kenneth family from?

You can see how Kenneth families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kenneth family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kenneth families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 111 Kenneth families living in Kent. This was about 34% of all the recorded Kenneth's in United Kingdom. Kent had the highest population of Kenneth families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kenneth 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 Kenneth ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Kenneth. 30% of Kenneth men worked as a General Labourer and 87% of Kenneth women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kenneth were Retired and Home Duties.

View Census Data for Kenneth | 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

  • General Labourer
    30%
  • Electrician
    30%
  • Master Baker
    20%
  • Retired
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    87%
  • Domestic Servant
    4%
  • Cook
    4%
  • Home Duties
    4%

What Kenneth family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 16,000 census records available for the last name Kenneth. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kenneth census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kenneth

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Kenneth. 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 Kenneth immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8,000 military records available for the last name Kenneth. For the veterans among your Kenneth ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kenneth military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kenneth family history

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What is the average Kenneth lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Kenneth life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1963. The average life expectancy for Kenneth in 1954 was 40, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kenneth

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kenneth 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kenneth family tree

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