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

Kenney, 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 Kenney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kenney in America

Kenney is the 1266th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kenney surname appeared 27,759 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Kenney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kenney 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 Kenney

The surname Kenney is of Irish origin, with roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is a variant spelling of the more common Irish surname Kennedy, which is derived from the Gaelic name Ó Cinnéidigh, meaning "descendant of the ugly-headed one."

The name Kenney is believed to have originated in County Tipperary, Ireland, where it was first recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by Franciscan monks in the 17th century. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "O'Kenedy," which later evolved into various forms such as Kenedy, Kennedie, and eventually Kenney.

One notable historical figure with the surname Kenney was Sir Robert Kenney (1599-1672), an Irish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1660 to 1672. He played a significant role in the establishment of the English legal system in Ireland during the 17th century.

Another prominent individual was James Kenney (1780-1849), an Irish dramatist and novelist who wrote several successful plays, including "Raising the Wind" and "Sweethearts and Wives." He was also known for his satirical works and his contributions to the literary scene in London during the early 19th century.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kenney can be found in the 17th century with the arrival of John Kenney, an Irish immigrant who settled in Maryland in the 1670s. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of the country.

One notable American with the surname Kenney was Nicholas Kenney (1781-1837), a businessman and politician from New Jersey who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1823 to 1825.

Another significant figure was Michael Kenney (1854-1921), an Irish-born American labor leader who played a prominent role in the early 20th century labor movement. He was the founder and first president of the United Association of Plumbers, Gas Fitters, Steam Fitters, and Steam Fitters' Helpers, a major trade union in the United States.

The surname Kenney has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Kenneyswell in County Tipperary and Kenneyville in County Sligo, further solidifying its Irish roots and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kenney

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

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 Kenney 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 Kenney 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 Kenney was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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