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Of Bebated Origins: Kennedys of Scotland
I, like most Americans
after several generations, I had to research my genealogical
background. I remember my mother singing Scottish and Irish
lullabys, to me as a child. Years later, I decided to look into the
kinds of people I came from; little did I know where it would lead
me.
Being the 12th
generation American, I and my family knew little or nothing about
where the family started or even came from. And so it began. First I
researched the meaning of the name. That told me where it
originated. But why is it a varient spelling? Heres where the
confusion and debate gets started.
Years later, I know
where my family comes from. But the surname is still debated - by
even the most learned historians, scripts, chronicalors, and
genealogists.
Many names; even
gaelic names are known to come from an adaptation of the persons
job or occupation. The surname Kennedy might simply be taken of the
persons title. (I.E. Kenkynol or Cleancinneal-Chief of or "Head of" the clan ; Thatcher = one who
thatches - roofer, or Smith= metal worker....blacksmith, goldsmith;
Potter= one that creates or repairs pots, caulderns, pans).
Varient spellings, are
really not a mystery- if one considers, the way some languages are heard,
understood, or misunderstood. Improperly, or badly translated words and
names result in varients as do the settlement of different cultural groups within
a given community or region.
Research and commom
scense should play a part in the record(s) even those with little or
no foundations.
SIDEBAR: It seems to me
that if the Cinneide/Kennedy surname was in use in Ireland at or
about 950 and it shows up in Scotland at or about 1200. The
connection between Ireland and Scotland are obvious and
apparent.....it should not take 150 years for a family to move less
than 100 miles. Especially in the age of viking sea travel.
The following are prime
examples of why there is a debate. Should this even be an issue? Kennedys
are now found worldwide. Irish, Scottish, Scots-Irish?
THE ANCIENT BLOODLINE
The Development of the Kennedy Name from Royal Bloodlines
"Cunneda, a chieftain
of the Votadini tribe of Lothian, was sent by the Saxon leader
Votigern, to southwest Scotland to establish settlements to resist
Picto Scottish sea raids. These settlements spread down the West
Coast of Scotland as far as north Wales. In the Celtic language
Cunneda was rendered as Cinneidigh (meaning ugly or - grim-headed.
The name gradually became especially associated with the district of
Carrick in Ayshire, Scotland. This is rational and even has been documented, not
demonstrated through written record.
The Kennedys ancient
history has its roots in the most ancient of the Vikings, Saxons
& Danes. The histories of the Scottish & Irish are very
intermingled. The Vikings established settlements along the East
Coast of Ireland. Brian Boru King of Ireland (Overthrew the Vikings
at the Battle of Clontarf, Near Dublin, in 1014.) and "Kennethe",
the son of Brian Boru. Kennethe was the Thane of Carrick, From
Scotia. He was then given the title of Thane of Carrick in Scotland.
This one bothers me some as
research shows- First- as per:[ O'Brien Genealogies
written 1762 AD based on an earlier book by Hugh boy MacCurtain
in 1608 AD, Translated from Irish by Standish O'Grady.] Brian had
six (6) sons Murrough, Conor, and Flann were without issue. Teigue,
Donough, and Donell were three with issue. No Kennethe
documented, in any source we researched.Second, as per:[Scotland
c1000-12000: The Shire, The Thane, The Sheriff, and the
Sheriffdom. ©1994 By Ewan J. Innes, MA (Hons Scot. Hist.) FSA
Scot. and other notable sources, There was no Thane of Carrick
during the time of Brian Boru or his children. Carrick was a part of
a larger district, and was controlled by the knights of the
region.
A descendant of
Kennethe was Eugenus Carratalk who married Queme Carramantis.
In the downline of
Eugenus Carratalk we find Fergus, The Lord of the Galloway Region of
Scotland. Fergus married Elizabeth (The daughter of King Henry I who
was the King Of England). Fergus was the Lord Of Galloway. The aforementioned names (Eugenus
Carratalk & Queme Carramantis) could not be located in the
Fergusson Genealogical records-the Fergussons of Galloway are well
documented. However, they were found in British-Roman records, which pre-dates
the time of Brian Boru or his children. Further downline...
John Carrick had a son
named Rolan de Carrick. The Earldom of Carrick ceased in the Carrick
family with heiress Marjorie de Carrick upon her marriage to Robert
the Bruce of Annandale in 1271 (parents of King Robert Bruce).
However the "Kenkynol or Cleancinneal" was granted to Marjory's
first cousin, Rolan de Carrick before 1256 AD. This right to lead
the clan was confirmed upon him by King Robert II.
Traditionally, the leader of a clan is a Chief, either passed to a successor,
or was freely elected by members of the clan and is not confirmed by a king or others
that are neither connected to or as is a member of the said clan. It should be
recognized that the leader or Chief of the clan was seemingly more of a financial status
position, than an active role. As the men of Carrick were lead more often by The Bruce
than by the Kennedy Chief, as per documented history.
Hence Rolan de Carrick
changed his name to Kennedy. He is considered to be the first Head
of the clan Kennedy, formerly de Carrick (the highlanders), who had
been formerly known as Mc Ulrich. But, wasn't Cormac MacCennetig already using the Kennedy surname- as per
the Book of Deer which is pre-1100
Rolan de Carrick may or may not have
been a Kennedy. The term "de Carrick" might also be considered a title vs a surname.
Rolan (de Carrick)
Kennedy was killed in the Holy War against the Saracens. His
daughter married Robert de Bruce. Henceforward the clan became
established and was known throughout Scotland as Clan Kennedy.
Yet, others maintain:
This name comes from
the old Irish Gaelic, ‘cinneidigh’, literary meaning ‘ugly headed’.
The family came from Ireland to Celtic Dalriada, now Strathclyde,
but are mainly associated with the district of Carrick in Ayrshire.
They claimed descent from the Earls of Carrick and kinship to the
Bruce family, whom they supported against the Comyns and throughout
the War of Independence. Still searching for a recorded history to document this
idea; but several sources imply or suggest that the Kennedys are of
Irish origin. A description of Carrick even states that they are from the stock
of the Earl of Thomond, in Ireland.
Daithi O hOgain author of; Irish Family Names: Kennedy
(O' Cinneide)pg.41-42- maintains:
A grandson of King
Toirdhealbhach, Domhall O'Brian, seized some territory in Galloway
on the South-west coast of Scotland. Apparently a spin-off from the
expansionism of Domhnall's Uncle, King Muirchearttach O'Brian. It is
likely the man left in charge of the O'Brian settlement in Scotland
was called Cinneide-perhaps indeed Muircheartach's son Cinneide
Odhar ('the dun'). One Cormac, son of Cinneide, was a chieftain in
Ayrshire in 1131. The Kennedys of Scotland are presumably descended
from him and his followers. I
have requested information from historical entities in Ireland and
Scotland to try and verify this information ; as of yet there has
been no response. However, this might be the man mentioned in the Book of Deer,
the oldest know Scottish manuscript.
There may never be a
resolution to this debate. Is it truely important? Probably not. If the
Kennedys of Ireland and the Kennedys of Scotland are of the same stock or
not; what is important is that they all have played important roles in the histories
not only the gaelic culture but in the history of the whole world.
With the Plantation era
of Ireland, and the transplants of so many Scottish Kennedys in Ireland; it may be impossible
to clearly or accurately seperate the Kennedys from one another.
If anyone has knowledge of any published
information either conjectural or historical, please feel free to forward the information , please include
the following, if known:
Title, author, publisher, date of release(publication), ISBN to
research@clankennedy.org .
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