Surname Kenady - Meaning and Origin
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Kenady: What does the surname Kenady mean?
The last name Kenady is of Irish origin, derived from the O'Connaidy (or O'Connide) clan, located in the Ulster province of Northern Ireland. The original Irish Gaelic form of the name is O Ciarmhadaigh, which originated from the Irish words ciar, meaning dark, and mhadach, meaning noble. The O'Connaidy surname was adopted into various other spellings over the centuries, including Kenady.
The Kenady surname is associated with the phrase 'Warriors of the Church', due to the O'Connaidy clan's traditional ties to both the Catholic Church and military service. It is said that in the 1500s John O'Connaidy of County Armagh was rewarded for his military service by King James I of England with a coat of arms that boasted a chevron, which was believed to represent the letter 'M' to signify 'Mac', meaning Son of.
The Kenady family motto is 'Convallis Virtus', which is Latin for 'Strength in Adversity' and reflects their faith and loyalty in the face of difficult times.
Today, the Kenady name remains strongly associated with County Armagh; many bearers of the Kenady surname still live there. In addition to its Irish roots, the name has spread to other locations around the world, including the United States, Australia and Scotland. It is also carried by many prominent figures, such as Irish politician Margaret Kenady and American motorcross rider Chris Kenady.
The Kenady surname is an evocative symbol of strength and faith, reflecting the courage and loyalty of its Irish origins and carrying that spirit into the present day.
Order DNA origin analysisKenady: Where does the name Kenady come from?
The last name Kenady is commonly found in the United States today. It is believed to have originated from Ireland, where it first appeared in the records during the 16th century.
The Kenady last name is more prominent in the eastern and northern states. Records show that the largest number of the Kenadys present in the US can be found in Pennsylvania and New York. Popular cities with a significant Kenady population include Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New York City.
More recently, the Kenady name has spread to the western states. Colorado and Utah have sizable Kenady communities, which can be attributed to the migration of settlers from the northeast to the Rockies to take part in the gold and silver rushes.
Overall, Kenady remains a fairly uncommon surname in the US. Current estimates suggest that there are only around 18,000 people who currently use the name in the country, with most of them living in the northeastern and western states. Nonetheless, with the growth of population, the number of Kenadys in the US is likely to rise in the near future.
Variations of the surname Kenady
The surname Kenady is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cionnaith, which is derived from the Irish word ‘cion’, meaning ‘kind’ or ‘generous’. The name is found in many forms, some of which include; Kinady, Kinneady, Kenedy, Kennady, Kennedey, Kennedie, Kinedy, Kineady, Kineadye, Kinnedy, Kinnedey, Kinnedie, Kiondaide and Kionneide.
In addition, there are a number of variants from the Gaelic form of the surname. These include; Cionnaith, Cionaithe, Ceinneidigh, Ceinneide, Ceinny, Ceinnye, Ciarnaithe, Ciarnoide, Ciondaide, Cionnaide, Cionnaithe, Cionteide, Conaide, Conaidey, Conaite, Conaitey, Conay, Consaidhe, Connaid, Connayde, Connaede, Connaide and Connaydhe.
The earliest known ancestor of the Kenady family was Maolmhuire, 12th Lord of Oriel. His descendants adopted the anglicised form of the name and spread across Ireland and the UK. The surname is still most commonly found in counties in northern Ireland, Britain and Australia.
Famous people with the name Kenady
- Gus Kenady: Former Australian rugby league footballer
- Walter Kenady: American actor and producer
- Gregory Kenady: American stage and television actor
- Shelby Kenady: American dancer and choreographer
- Kristen Kenady: American actress
- Jayson Kenady: American bodybuilder
- Kenady Beil: American professional boxer
- Brandon Kenady: American professional super featherweight boxer
- Kelli Kenady: American professional MMA fighter
- R. K. Kenady: British World War II bomber pilot and Baronet
- Erik Kenady: American racquetball player
- Mary Kenady: Australian small business expert
- Cedric Kenady: American football coach
- Dave Kenady: American basketball coach
- Jade Kenady: Environmental lawyer
- Katie Kenady: American model
- Jaydon Kenady: American grandson of actor Charlton Heston
- Emma Kenady: American equestrian and Olympic hopeful
- Larry Kenady: Canadian figure skater
- Janeen Kenady: American figure skater