The Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway (with contemporary anecdotes, traditions, and genealogical notices of old families of the sheriffdom, 1330 to 1747); Sir Andrew Agnew.

first version 12th August 2007

Iain Kennedy

Copyright © 2007 Iain Kennedy

George Black in 'Surnames of Scotland' makes a reference to Agnew's claims about the first instance of the Kennedy surname on Scottish soil (p33). Here is Agnew's main section on the early Kennedys, commencing on page 47.

'In 1366 Sir Gilbert Kennedy of Dunure had from the King a charter of the lands of Broughton, Cruggleton and others. Soon after the family obtained large possessions in the parish of Inch and on an island in the lochs of Inch built a stronghold, which was for long a principle residence of the chief of the name. The family of Kennedy are of pure Scottish or Celtic origin without any mixture of Saxon or Norman blood. The statements of Nisbet and Pitcairn, that the meaning of the name is simply 'the head' and that a certain Roland of Carrick on a grant of chiefship from Neil, Earl of Carrick, AD 1275 assumed the name of Kennedy thus indicating he was 'the head of the house' is quite erroneous; for it is well ascertained that the name of Kennedy or MacKennedy was known a century before that date and it seems reasonable to accept the derivation as given by a very old author [the 16th century anonymous 'Historical Account of the Kennedies'] that 'out of all doubt the same proceedit fra the name Kennethe, for of that name there were sundry kings and also some very fine captains'. About 1320 John de Kennedy married the grand-daughter or grand-niece of Roland de Carrick, and by her acquired large additional possessions and adopted in part the arms of de Carrick which were argent a cheveron gules. He is usually styled Sir John Kennedy of Dunure; he also acquired (we believe in right of his wife) the heritable offices of keeper of the castle of Loch Doon and ranger of the forest of Buchan.'