This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Kynaston,' a township in the parish of Kinnerley, Shropshire. This surname was borne by a noble Welsh family from early times.

Variants of Kynaston, which see. The American forms of Kennison and Kennerson seem to suggest a baptismal derivation. But such is not the case. There are dozens of parallel instances in this dictionary. The suffix -ston or -stone is frequently corrupted to -son. The instances below show how the ball of corruption was set rolling; compare Kelson for Kelston.

1592. Buried — Francis Kennystone: St. Michael, Cornhill.

1598. — William Kennyston, upholder, ibid.

1641. Marmaduke Dollman and Margaret Kennaston: Marriage Lic. (London).

KENNIESON: William Kennieson in Jordieston, 1745 (Dunkeld). Here most probably a variant of Cunieson, which see.

V. Kynaston.

"The Kynastons," says Mr. Shirley, "are lineal descendants of the ancient British princes of Powys, sprung from Griffith, son of Jorweth Goch, who took refuge in Shropshire" temp. Henry II., who gave him lands in that county, "to be held in capite by the service of being latimer (that is interpreter) between the English and the Welsh. He married Matilda, youngest sister and coheir of Ralph le Strange, and in her right became possessed of the manor of Kinnerley and other estates in Shropshire. Madoc, the eldest son of Griffith, seated himself at Sutton, from him called to this day Sutton-Madoc. Griffith Vychan, the younger son, had Kinnerley, a portion of his mother's inheritance, and in that manor he resided, at Tre-gynvarth, Anglice ' Kynvarth's Town,' usually written and spoken of as Kynaston; and hence the name of this family." Noble and Gentle Men, p, 183.

From Kenstone; a location name in Salop.

The ancient Shropshire family of Kynaston derived its name from a village in the county. The Kenestons or Kynastons of Shropshire were so deeply implicated in the sanguinary struggle between the Houses of York and Lancaster, that in 1487 an Act of Parliament was passed against them (W.). Francis and Roger Kynnaston of this county contributed £25 apiece to the fund collected for the defence of the country at the time of the expected Spanish invasion in 1588 (Sp.). The Kynastons of Otely Park, Ellesmere, had an altar tomb in Ellesmere Church, bearing the date of 1590 (Collect. Top. et Gen.), and the family still hold property in that district. During the 17th century the Kynastons or Kinastons frequently filled the office of bailiff or mayor of Shrewsbury (P.). The gentle family of this name that resided at Farndon, Cheshire, 200 years ago, was probably an offshoot of the Shropshire stock (Coll. Top. et Gen.).