Surname Kennion - Meaning and Origin

Kennion: What does the surname Kennion mean?

The last name Kennion is of Scottish origin and is a topographic surname derived from the Gaelic words ceann or ceannan, meaning "headland" or "promontory". The name is composed of two elements – ceann (head) and dun (fort), making Kennion a name for a person who dwells by a headland or promontory. In some cases, the name may have been a local name from a homestead in a coastal area (from the Gaelic element dun, meaning fort or stronghold).

Kennion is one of the oldest recorded Scottish surnames, appearing in records dating back to the 11th century. It is recorded in a variety of forms, including MacKennan, MacAneny and Kinnion. It first appeared in the Records of the Parliaments of Scotland as the name of one Nigel MacKinnon in 1388. In the Middle Ages, the family was associated with the Scottish Highlands, where the name was often anglicized as Kynion, Kinion, Kennon, or Kennion.

Today, the Kennion surname is mainly found in Scotland, but has spread to other parts of the world. In the United States and Canada, it is most frequently found in areas with large Scottish populations. It is also found in Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand in smaller numbers. The Kennion surname is a proud reminder of Scotland's ancient and proud heritage.

Kennion: Where does the name Kennion come from?

The last name Kennion is not particularly common today, at least not in its pure form. It is most often found clustered in certain regions of the United States, primarily in its western and southwestern states. California is the state that holds the highest concentration of this surname. Other regional concentrations can be found in Oregon, Nevada, and Texas. Research shows that the origin of this family name is Irish in origin. This links to its commonly found regions today, as the Kennion family first descended from an Irish ancestor and broke off to settle where the Irish migrated the most.

It is difficult to track the lineage of the Kennion family, though some records suggest they may have descended from a family known as Kinningham. These two names are very similar in both pronunciation and spelling, suggesting a connection between the two. As of today, there are approximately 1,000 people in the United States with the name Kennion. Looking globally, the name is fairly uncommon compared to other countries.

Although the last name Kennion is not common today, it still persists through certain areas in the United States. For anyone trying to trace their ancestry, researching the birthplace of the Kennions can be of immense help in finding out their origins.

Variations of the surname Kennion

Kennion is a surname of early medieval British origin, and is thought to be a derivative of the name Kenneth. It is an anglicized version of the Scottish Gaelic surname, Ceanadach.

Variants and alternative spellings of the name Kennion include Kenion, Kinion, Kinnion, and Kynion. In addition, there are several surnames of similar origin, including Kenyon, Kinney, Kinyon, Kinion, Kinnion, Kinnan, and Kennen.

Kennion is also an English surname, derived from an Old English first name, Cynnmann or Cynnwine. This name is thought to have been derived from the Old English ‘cynn’, meaning ‘family’ or ‘race’, and ‘mann’, meaning ‘man’ or ‘servant’. Variants of this surname include Kenion, Kinion, Kinne, Kinnee, Kinnion, Kinyon, and Kyne.

In Ireland, the surname Kennion is derived from the Gaelic name O’Cinnean, which is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Irish surname O’Ceanadha. This is an important family name in County Mayo from the south-west of the island. Variations include Kinneen, Kinnin, and Kinan.

Finally, examples of similar surnames from continental Europe include Kienlein from Germany, Kieniz from the Netherlands, Kienast from Austria, Kiena from France, and Kienholz from Switzerland.

Famous people with the name Kennion

• Graham Kennion (British racing car driver)
• Owen Kennion (Bermuda cricketer)
• Mal Kennion (Australian Rules Footballer)
• Gary Kennion (New Zealand Rugby League Player)
• Peter Kennion (English Premier League footballer)
• Ty Kennion (American professional sportscaster)
• Jordan Kennion (Australian Footballer)
• Bruce Kennion (American quarterback)
• Jack Kennion (British actor)
• Mary Kennion (Irish actress)
• Andrew Kennion (English musician)
• Marianne Kennion (British fashion designer)
• Rosemary Kennion (Irish cellist)
• Henry Kennion (British spark plug manufacturer)
• Hugh Kennion (Irish lexicographer)
• Marcia Kennion (American artist)
• Sarah Kennion (English freelance writer, photographer, and videographer)
• Darius Kennion (American golfer)
• Neil Kennion (British professional poker player)
• Philip Kennion (Irish composer and conductor)

Other surnames

KennickKennifickKenning