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

Kenyon, 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 Kenyon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kenyon in America

Kenyon is the 2796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kenyon surname appeared 12,891 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Kenyon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kenyon 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 Kenyon

The surname Kenyon is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cyne" and "tun," collectively meaning "royal farm" or "king's estate." This suggests that the name's earliest bearers may have resided on or near a royal property or manor.

Kenyon is also associated with the village of Kenyon in Lancashire, England, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Keniune." The name likely evolved from this place name, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on their place of residence during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kenyon surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199, where a Robert de Kenion is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name was Sir William de Kenyon, a Lancashire knight who served as a military commander during the Wars of Scottish Independence. He was born around 1270 and played a crucial role in several battles against the Scots.

Another prominent individual with the Kenyon surname was John Kenyon, a 15th-century English merchant and alderman from Chester. He was born around 1420 and became a influential figure in the city's governance and trade affairs.

During the 16th century, the Kenyon family established themselves as landowners in Lancashire, owning estates in the townships of Kenyon and Lowton. One notable member was Roger Kenyon, born in 1531, who served as a justice of the peace and held significant influence in the region.

In the 17th century, Sir Robert Kenyon, born in 1599, was a prominent lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of King's Bench in England from 1679 to 1687. His legal expertise and contributions to the judiciary made him a respected figure of his time.

The 18th century saw the birth of Lloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron Kenyon (1732-1802), a distinguished lawyer and judge who served as Master of the Rolls and Lord Chief Justice of King's Bench. He was known for his strict adherence to legal principles and his influential rulings on various cases.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kenyon

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

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

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

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