Kendrick

Kendrick m

English: in modern use a transferred use of the surname, the origins of which are confused. Given its distribution, the most likely source in the majority of cases is the Old Welsh personal name Cynwrig. This is of uncertain derivation, but may be composed of Old Celtic elements meaning ‘high, exalted’ + ‘hill, summit’.

The Scottish surname Ken(d)rick is a shortened form of MacKen(d)rick (Gaelic Mac Eanraig ‘son of Henry’); Scottish bearers are descended from a certain Henry MacNaughton, and therefore the (Mac)Ken(d)ricks are a sept of Clan MacNaughton.

It is also possible that, as an English surname, Ken(d)rick is derived in part from the Old English personal names Cēnerīc and Cyneríc. The first of these is composed of the elements cēne keen or bold + rīc power; the second is from cyne royal + rīc power. Withycombe says that ‘the Christian name Cynric survived into the 17th century,’ but unfortunately does not give any evidence. Without information about the location it is impossible to decide whether it is a survival (and, if so, of what), a revival, or a transferred use.

Variant: Kenrick.