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

Kenning, 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 Kenning surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kenning in America

Kenning is the 30701st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kenning surname appeared 759 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 Kenning.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kenning 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 Kenning

The surname Kenning is believed to have originated in England, likely deriving from the Old English word "kenning," which referred to a form of descriptive metaphor or poetic circumlocution commonly used in Anglo-Saxon poetry. This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname given to someone skilled in the art of poetic composition or storytelling.

The earliest recorded instances of the Kenning surname date back to the 13th century. One notable early reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, which mentions a William Kenning. Other early spellings of the name include Kenyng, Kenynge, and Keyninge, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and scribal practices of the time.

During the medieval period, the Kenning surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire. In the 14th century, records show a John Kenning residing in the village of Walkern, Hertfordshire, indicating the surname's connection to specific localities.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the Kenning surname is John Kenning (c. 1445 - 1515), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1499 until his death. Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Kenning (c. 1560 - 1628), a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1612.

In the literary realm, the name Kenning is associated with the 17th-century English poet and playwright Thomas Kenning (c. 1620 - 1667), whose works included several plays and poetic collections. Additionally, William Kenning (1721 - 1798) was a notable English clockmaker and inventor active during the 18th century.

The Kenning surname also has connections to place names, such as the village of Kenning Hall in Norfolk, which was once home to a prominent family bearing the name. This suggests that the surname may have derived from a locational source in some instances.

Throughout history, the Kenning surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, merchants, artists, and craftsmen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those bearing this name across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kenning

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

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

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

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