Find out how popular the last name Kenneth is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kenneth.

Kenneth, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kenneth surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kenneth in America

Kenneth is the 35582nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kenneth surname appeared 632 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kenneth.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kenneth to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kenneth

The surname Kenneth has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic words "Cain" (chief) and "Necht" (born), together meaning "born of the leader" or "chief's son." The name was initially a personal name given to those born of noble or prominent families.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Kenneth can be traced back to the 12th century, with mentions found in various Scottish charters and historical documents. One notable early bearer of the name was Kenneth mac Alpin, who reigned as the King of Scots from 843 to 858 AD and is considered the first king of a united Scotland.

The surname Kenneth has been found in various spellings throughout history, including Kennethe, Kennethie, and Kennethy. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling practices in earlier times. Additionally, the name has been associated with several place names, such as Kennethmont in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, which likely derived from the surname.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Kenneth include:

1. Kenneth III (997-1005), King of Scots from 997 until his death in 1005.
2. John Kenneth (c. 1420-c. 1480), a Scottish diplomat and Bishop of Ross in the 15th century.
3. Thomas Kenneth (c. 1600-1667), a Scottish clergyman and author of the 17th century.
4. Sir William Kenneth (1720-1780), a Scottish naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the 18th century.
5. James Kenneth (1784-1858), a Scottish painter known for his landscapes and portraits.

Over time, the surname Kenneth has spread beyond Scotland to various parts of the world, including England, Ireland, and North America, where it was carried by Scottish immigrants and their descendants. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval Scottish nobility, the surname Kenneth has become a part of the diverse tapestry of names found across different cultures and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kenneth

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kenneth.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kenneth was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kenneth has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kenneth was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kenneth, please contact us.

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