This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Kendal,' Westmorland The manufacture of 'Kendal green' made this town early famous, and of necessity caused the surname to be common. The result is that it is familiar to every directory in the English-speaking world. The river Kent, I need not say, still flows through the dale. The surname is frequently met with in all the adjacent villages and towns of the Furness district of North Lancashire.

Johannes de Kendall, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Thomas de Kendale, 1379: ibid.

Edmundus de Kendall, 1379: ibid.

Johannes de Kendall, Webster, 1379: ibid.

John Kendall, of Aldyngham, 1571: Lancashire Wills at Richmond.

Roger Kendoll, of Ulverston, 1582: ibid.

Elizabeth Kendall, of Clitheroe, widow, 1503: Wills at Chester.

(Celtic + Teutonic) belonging to Kendal (Westm.) = the Dale of the Kent, Ken, or Can [the river- name is doubtless the Welsh cain = Gaelic cain, clear, bright, white (cp.Kenn2); the second element is Old Norse dal-r, a dale, valley (Kendal is properly Kirkby-in-Kendal, 13th cent. Kirkeby in Kendale] John de Kendal.—Lanc. Assize-Rolls, A.D. 1246-7.

Adam de Kendale.—Lanc. Assize-Rolls, A.D. 1285.

Where Can first creeping forth, her feet hath scarcely found, But gives that Dale her name, where Kendale town doth stand, For making of our cloth scarce match’d in all the land.— Drayton, Poly-Olbion, Song xxx. 18-20. (Scandinavian) (occasionally) belonging to Kendal or Kendale (Yorks), the Domesday Cheldal = the Spring-Dale [Old Norse kelda, a spring + dal-r]

Kent-dale, the valley of the Kent, a river of Westmoreland. The true name of the town known as Kendal is Kirkby-in-Kendale.

The general opinion seems to be that this family is of different origin from that of the Kendalls of Westmoreland, whose name is derived from Kirby-in-Kendale, i. e. the church dwelling (kirk-by) in Kent-dale. Hals says, "Kendall signifies to see or behold the dale or valley; otherwise Kendall or Cendall is fine linen; and Cendale may be a corruption of Pendall, i. e. the head of the valley." The name may mean the house in the valley (chy'n-dôl), or the neck of the dale (conna-dôl). Hence perhaps Kendal and Kendle.

Local. Derived from the town of Kendal, in Westmoreland, England, and was so called from the river Ken, on which it is situated, and dale; the dale on the river Ken.