Sir Andrew Agnew says (I, p. 33) that the "first appearance of a Kennedy in Galloway" is in 1034, when "Suibhne mac Cinaeda ri Gallgaidhel" is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster. This, however, is an error. MacCinaeda is not MacKennedy but MacKenna. The earliest Kennedy recorded in Scotland appears to be Gilbert mac Kenedi, who witnessed a charter by Raderic Mac Gillescop of lands in Carrie to the Abbey of Melrose early in the reign of King William the Lion (Melros, I, p. 29). Henry Kennedy or MacKenede is named in 1185 as one of the leaders and instigators of rebellion in Galloway, and is stated to have fallen in battle (Fordun, Annals, XVI). Gillescop MacKenedi, senescallus de Karric, is twice in record in the reign of Alexander II (Metros, I, p. 171), and Gillecrist filius Kenedi witnessed a grant of lands in the same district within the same period (ibid., p. 172). Maldouen Macenedy or Mackenedi appears as charter witness in the Lennox c. 1240—8 (Lennox, II, p. 7). Hugh and Murdoch Mackenedy served as jurors on an inquest made at Gerwan (Girvan) in 1260 (Bain, I, 2674), and the latter, as Murthan MacKenede, witnessed a charter of the church of Maybothel in Carrick before 1250 (CMN., p. 15). Fergus Makenedy who rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the sheriff of Ayr, 1266 (ER., I, p. 34), may be the ffergus mac Kenedi who witnessed John Cumyne's grant of a right of way by his wood and the bridge of the black ford called in Scots Athebethy to the monastery of Inchaffray in 1278 (Inchaffray, p. 100), and c. 1285 witnessed another charter by Alexander de Dunhon of the land of Arachor to Sir Patrick de Graham (Montrose, p. 166). Alexander MacKennedy who appears as a charter witness between 1230—70 (RMP., p. 134,137, 138) is probably Master Alexander Kenedi (without 'Mac'), canon of Glasgow, c. 1272—83 (ibid., p. 53,127), and as Magister Alexander Kenedy, charter witness in Glasgow, c. 1290 (REG., p. 200). As dominus Alexander Kennedy, canon of Glasgow, he rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 194). Sir Hugh Kennedy possessed lands in Lanarkshire in 1296 (Rot. Scot., I, p. 29b), and as Huwe Kenedy rendered homage for them in the same year. His seal bears a garb, four pellets on either side S Hugonis Kinnedi (Bain, II, p. 203,544). Sir Malcolm Kenedy was camerarius Scocie in 1338 (SCM., V, p. 244), and Gilbert McKenedy witnessed a charter by John, earl of Carrick of lands in the lordship of Kyle in the reign of Robert II (Melros, II, p. 453). John Kennedy of Dunure was captain of the Jan Muintircasduff about 1346 (RMS., I, p. 574). John Kennedye witnessed a charter by Robert II to Duncan, earl of Leuenax in 1384 (Levenax, p. 8), and in 1393 there is confirmation of the lands of Buchmonyn in the earldom of Levenax to John Kennyde, son of Fergus Kennyde (ibid., p. 44). Donald Kenedi attested a charter by Stephen Flemyng, master of the Hospital of Soltre, 1426 (Soltre, p. 52). Gilbert Kennedy of Bargany in 1464 had a charter of the 25s. land of Coffe, and the lands of Kellolie in the parish of Sanct Michaelis Muntercasduff, etc., from Gilbert Kennedy of Cullean (Culzean) (Paterson, Ayr. II. p. 347). This charter is interesting as showing that the lands of Kirkmichael belonged of old to the clan Muntercasduff. The name early made its way to the northeast. Duncan Kennedy was provost of Aberdeen, 1321—2, Peter Kyneidy was burgess there, 1333—42 (REA., I, p. 54, 72), David Kynidy, bailie in 1376 (ER., II, p. 542), and Thomas Kennedy was infeft in the ownership of Auchorthies, 1390 (Banchory-Devenick, p. 158). A family of Kennedys held the lands of Kermuck in Aberdeenshire for several generations. The Moray Kennedys, it is believed, came north with the possession of the earldom of Moray by Janet Kennedy and her son by James IV. This branch is known as Ceonnaideach. In Arran the Kennedys are in the Gaelic of the island M'Cnusachainn or possibly M'Rusachainn, "a name which awaits explanation," The Kennedys of Lochaber are the ones known as M'Walrick (G. MacUalraig), which see.

Symson in his Large description of Galloway (written c. 1660) gives an old rhyme descriptive of the power of the Kennedys;

"'Twixt Wigton and the toun of Air,

Portpatrick and the Cruives of Cree,Stolen from Fore-bears

No man needs think for to bide there

Unless he court with Kennedie."

Stolen from Fore bearsThe modern Gaelic form of the name is Ceannaideach, Irish Cinneididh, from earlier Cinneide or Cinneidigh, Mid. Irish Cendetig (Book of Leinster, fol. 150b 20), literally "ugly headed" (Kuno Meyer) or "grim headed" (Watson I, p. 409). compare the Gaelic name of Loch Etive, Loch Eitigh, "ugly, horrid loch," (from name of the goddess of the loch) Watson I, p. 46. Canedie 1420, Kanide 1526, Kanydi 1521, Kenadie 1558, Kenale 1575, Kendy 1439, Kendye 1562 Keneby and Kenedy 1462, Keneidy 1342, Kenide 1535, Kennadee 1450, Kennatie and Kennaty 1567, Kennerty 1487, Kennetie and Kennety 1583, Kennetye 1566, Kennide 1500, Kennite 1538, Kennyde 1520, Kennydy and Kinydy 1486, Kenyde 1477, Kinnerty 1493, and among the Scots Guards in France Camede.

(Celtic) the Irish C(e)inneidigh = Ugly Head or Ugly Chief [Irish cinn (ceann), head, chief, leader + eidigh, ugly]

“Ugly Head” in Gaelic. (Ceann “Head”, Eiligh, “Ugly”.)

(Scottish) One with an ugly or misshapen head; descendant of Kennedy (head armor).

Celtic. Cean-na-tighe, meaning, it is said, the head of a sept or clan. The family descend from the ancient earls of Carrick in Ayrshire, and seem to have changed their name from Carrick to Kennedy in the XIV. cent. The chief was K. of Dunure, afterwards Earl of Cassilis (now Marquis of Ailsa). In the XVI. cent. the power of this great house in the shires of Ayr and Galloway was set forth in a popular rhyme: —

The chief of the clan. Duncan de Carrick living in 1153, was father of Nichol de Carrick, whose son, Roland de Carrick, temp. Alexander III., took the name of Kennedy, and was the ancestor of the family.

From the Gaelic or Celtic words Kean—na—ty; the head of the house, or chief of the clan. Ceannaide signifies also a shopkeeper, a merchant.

From the Irish O’Ceannfhada or O’Cinnidh; personal name Cineadh, a nation.