Clan Kennedy
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Clan Kennedy is a Scottish clan and an Irish surname.
History
The Kennedys had their home territory in Carrick in Ayrshire,
in southwestern Scotland. Originally they were of Pictish/Norse stock from the Western Isles. In the fifteenth century, one Ulric Kennedy
fled Ayrshire to Lochaber in the Highlands for refuge, where he was granted protection
under the Chief of Clan Cameron. From this Highland branch, Kennedys settled
on the Isle of Skye. A branch also was established
in northeast Scotland, at Aberdeen. The clan was one branch of the Celtic
Lords of Galloway.
To add to the confusion, there are the Kennedys of nine-county Ulster in the north of Ireland.
The Kennedys who settled in Ulster are mostly of Scottish origin from the
territories of Galloway and Ayr just across the Irish Sea 20 miles away. Many Scottish Kennedys were planters
in Ulster, and many Scots went south to Dublin and mingled with the Irish clan. Because of
this confusion, the Scottish Chief of Kennedy is willing to recognize all
Kennedys as part of the clan/family.
Wars of Scottish
Independence
The Clan Kennedy supported King Robert I of
Scotland before and through the Wars of
Scottish Independence and were rewarded. Around 1360 John Kennedy became
owner of lands at Cassillis and in 1457 his descendant, Gilbert, was created
Lord Kennedy. Gilbert's younger brother James was Bishop of St Andrews and
founder of Scotland's first university, the University of St
Andrews.
Anglo Scottish wars
During the Anglo-Scottish Wars
the Clan Kennedy led by their Chief who was the 1st Earl of Cassillis
fought at the Battle of Flodden
Field in 1513 where the Chief was slain.
17th and 18th centuries
The death warrant of Scotland's first Protestant martyr, Patrick Hamilton,
was signed, under pressure, by the 3rd Earl, Gilbert, when twelve years old. He
was poisoned at Dieppe and the Earldom went to another Gilbert, celebrated for
roasting the Abbot of Crossraguel slowly over a fire to gain his land. The Abbot
was saved by the Kennedys of Bargany but not before being horribly crippled.
In 1775 the 10th Earl of Cassillis was David, who commissioned Robert Adam to build the stunning Culzean Castle. The half
gothic, half classical masterpiece looks across the Firth of Clyde to the Ailsa Craig and was offered for
use as a retreat to U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower in gratitude for his war achievements.
Modern distribution
Kennedy is the 16th most common surname in Ireland with ~20,000 bearers, in
the USA it is the 137th most common surname with ~185,000 bearers, in England
& Wales it is the 168th most common surname, and in Scotland it is the 58th
most common surname. In the USA the Kennedy Family have
played a leading role in public life.
Castles
Base of Scottish Family
Tree
Here is the base of the family tree:
- John Kennedy of Dunure and Cassillis M Heiress of the Carrick Earls
- Sir Gilbert
- James M Princess Mary (2nd daughter of Robert
III)
- Gilbert (Became Lord Kennedy in about 1457)
- .x James Kennedy (He served as High Chancellor of Scotland and was Bishop of Dunkeld, and
later Archbishop of St Andrews.
At St Andrews he founded St. Salvator's College in 1455 and is
considered
one of the founders of the University
of St Andrews)
-
- Hugh Kennedy of Ardstinchar (Worked for the Scottish mercenaries
and fought with Joan of Arc at the
siege of
Orly)
- Sir David (Third lord of Kennedy, created Earl of Cassilis in
1509)
The tenth Kennedy Earl commissioned Robert Adam to build the Culzean Castle, which
became the seat of the Kennedy Clan.
The twelfth Kennedy Earl was created Marquess of Ailsa
Clan profile
Gaelic names
- MacUalraig (Surname)
- Ceannaideach(Surname)
- Ceannaideach (Singular)
- Clann 'icUalraig (Collective)
Arms
- Scottish: Argent, a chevron Gules between three cross crosslets fichée
Sable, all within a double tressure flory counterflory Gules.
Scottish chief
Scottish septs
- Cassels
- Cassillis
- Cassell
- MacOurlick
- MacUlric
- MacUlrick
- Ulric
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