Surname Kennery - Meaning and Origin
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Kennery: What does the surname Kennery mean?
The last name Kennery is of English origin and is a variant of the surname Kennerley or Kennersley. It is an habitational name stemming from any of various places in England named Kennerley or Kennersley. These places got their name from Old English kinora meaning "spring near a fortification" or from Old English cyner "kingly estate" and leah "wood" or "clearing". The members of the Kennery family are thought to have descended from a single ancestor who lived in or around one of these places in English as far back as the 13th century.
Although there isn’t any concrete info of the genealogy of the Kennery family, records do show that it is an old English surname with a long and interesting history. It is probable that the Kennery family had its roots in noble and wealthy medieval England landowners during the Middle Ages, whose dynasties were broken up over time or assimilated into other families.
The Kennery family would have spread around England and beyond, particularly during the era of the industrial revolution, when many rural families moved to urban centers. The Kennery surname is primarily found in England, but has also spread to the United States, Australia, and other parts of the world.
The Kennery family is an old and distinguished one, whose origin dates back to the early 13th century and a distant and ancient past. The name can be seen as an adoption of a proud legacy of English history and nobility.
Order DNA origin analysisKennery: Where does the name Kennery come from?
The surname Kennery is of Irish origin. It appears to be derived from O’Ceanndain, a name originating in Connacht, an area in the western part of Ireland. The name in Gaelic means "descendant of Ceanndain", with "Ceanndain" likely referring to an individual's first name.
However, the Kennery surname does not appear to be very common today, both in Ireland and elsewhere. Surnames can evolve significantly over centuries, resulting in a wide range of variants, which might make the tracking of a particular surname like “Kennery” quite difficult. It's, thus, possible that the name has taken on different forms in modern times, making the contemporary prevalence and geographical distribution of the Kennery name a tricky estimation.
It might be seen sporadically throughout places with significant Irish diaspora, such as United States, Canada, UK, Australia or New Zealand. However, without specific demographic research, it is difficult to say with certainty where the name might be common today. Be reminded to consult specific, up-to-date demographic research to obtain a more definitive answer.
Variations of the surname Kennery
The surname Kennery has several variants and possible origins. Some spellings may include: Kennary, Kennerly, Kenary, Kenery, and Kenerly. The name could be of Irish origin, possibly derived from the Irish surname O'Ceanain or O'Cianain, anglicized as Kenneen or Kennan. It could also be an Anglicization of 'Mac an Cheannaire' meaning son of the head man or the chief.
The surname Kennery might be of English origin too. It could be derived from the Old English "Cena's boundary", which is thought to be a location-based surname for people living near a defined border or boundary.
In Scotland, possible related names are McKinney, McKenney, or MacKenna.
There are also some surnames sounding similar and might be derived from the same roots, like Kenner, Kenne, Khennery, Kenneree, and Kennerey.
However, the exact origin and all possible spelling variants depend on individual family history and record-keeping. Many of these variants could be the result of phonetic transcription, regional dialects, or simple clerical errors in record-keeping over centuries.
Famous people with the name Kennery
- Jack Kennery: professional Football player who spent time with the Dallas Cowboys.
- Todd Kennery: film and television producer who has credits on "Girlboss," "American Heiress," and "Glow."
- Ernie Kennery: Professional golfer who won two major tournaments on the PGA Tour.
- Sue Kennery: Professional figure skater who won two gold medals in the 1984 Winter Olympics.
- Eddie Kennery: Musician and actor who was a member of the rock band, Social Distortion.
- Christopher Kennery: Actor, known for his roles in "Guardians of the Galaxy", "Thor", and "Spider-Man: Homecoming".
- Bruce Kennery: Writer and director best known for his work on the movie, "The ABCs of Death".
- Steven Kennery: Comedian who was a writer and performer on "Saturday Night Live" from 1978 to 1992.
- Shane Kennery: Racing driver and part-time stunt performer who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995.
- Sean Kennery: Film director known for his works on the movie "Maleficent".
- Marty Kennery: Professional baseball player who played for three teams in the Major Leagues.
- Ryan Kennery: Professional snowboarder who competed in the Winter X-Games.
- Sarah Kennery: Professional tennis player who reached a career-high ranking of #42 in 2000.
- Lydia Kennery: Creative programmer and animator who was part of the production team of the DreamWorks movie "How to Train Your Dragon".