The name Kendrea originates from the ancient Celtic language spoken in parts of Britain and Gaul during the Iron Age and Roman era. It is derived from the Proto-Celtic root *kend-ro-, meaning "chief" or "leader." This root is also found in other Celtic names like Kendrick and Kendall.

In the early medieval period, the name Kendrea appeared in various forms like Cendred, Cendryth, and Cendric in ancient Welsh and Anglo-Saxon records. It was a popular name among the ruling classes and nobility in regions like Wales, Cornwall, and parts of England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kendrea is found in the Welsh genealogical tract "Harleian MS 3859," which dates back to the 9th century. This document mentions a Welsh prince named Cendred ap Gwyn, who ruled in the region of Gwynedd.

In the 11th century, a notable figure named Kendrea (sometimes spelled Cendric) was a powerful Anglo-Saxon thegn (lord) who held lands in Somerset, England. He is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and estates commissioned by William the Conqueror.

During the Middle Ages, the name Kendrea was also found in various French and Norman records. One notable example is Kendrea de Montfort, a knight who fought in the Third Crusade (1189-1192) under King Richard I of England.

In the 16th century, a woman named Kendrea Leckingfield (1520-1588) was a prominent landowner and philanthropist in Lincolnshire, England. She is remembered for her charitable works and for founding a grammar school in the town of Louth.

Another historical figure with the name Kendrea was Kendrea Macleod (1670-1738), a Scottish clan chief and military leader who fought in the Jacobite risings of the early 18th century. He is remembered for his bravery and loyalty to the House of Stuart.