Kenneth

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Kenneth
Given Name
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Kenneth is a male given name.

Contents

[edit] Origin

It is an anglicized form of either the Pictish name Ciniod or the Goidelic name Cináed, and could mean "fire-head" or "born of fire." Other names have also been anglicized as Kenneth, including the Irish Gaelic Coinneach ("handsome one") and the Welsh Cenydd or Cennydd (the name of a Welsh hermit saint who traditionally lived in the 6th century). The Old English Cyneath may mean "royal oath" but may also be one of the earliest Anglicizations of the Scoto-Pictish name. Saint John Kenneth Ceriales Day is October 11. English nicknames include Kenny and Ken, the latter also being a Japanese name.

[edit] Kenna

Kenna is the Irish/Scottish form of the given name Kenneth. It has become a popular female name in the United States of America, however can be found throughout the Irish diaspora more commonly as a surname/clan name.

The name Kenna dates back to a time before Irish names were anglicised (translated to English). The Original Gaelic spelling of Kenna was Cionaoith. Variations of the family name exist including Kennagh, Kenny, Kinna, Kinnie, and other numerous alternatives. Kenna is more often than not combined with the patronymic "Mac" or "Mc", meaning "son of"; for example "McKenna". It would appear that some dropped the patrynomic around the 18th and 19th centuries. However MacKenna's still outnumber Kenna's 10 to 1.

Early references to the name are found in county Monaghan at Truagh. They were referred to as being the "Lords of Truagh". Versions of the surname are obviously common through out Ireland and the United Kingdom, but also in countries commonly settled by Irish and Scottish settlers/convicts, such as Canada, The United States of America, Australia and New Zealand.

[edit] People

(see also Ken (name) and Kenny)

[edit] Places

In the United States:

In Australia:

[edit] Other