Surname De Kendal - Meaning and Origin

De Kendal: What does the surname De Kendal mean?

The surname De Kendal is of English origin, believed to have geographical roots. It is derived from the town of Kendal in Cumbria, North West England. The name of the town was recorded in the Domesday Book of the 11th century as Kynwale which eventually evolved into Kendal. The name Kendal means "valley on the River Kent", with 'Kent' referring to the river and 'Dale' signifying a valley in Old Norse. Over time, the name of the locale was adopted by individuals who hailed from there, thus transforming into a surname. The prefix "De" was often used in early English and Norman surnames as a way to denote "from" or "of," so "De Kendal" could mean "from Kendal" and would have been used to signify that the person hailed from the town of Kendal. As such, De Kendal is a locational surname and those bearing it would have been associated with that region.

De Kendal: Where does the name De Kendal come from?

The last name De Kendal originates from England, specifically from the market town of Kendal in Cumbria. The name is derived from the Old Norse words, 'keld' (spring) and 'dalr' (valley), essentially meaning "valley of the spring." It was traditionally adopted by those who lived in or near the town of Kendal. This surname, like many surnames, began to appear in documents and records during the Middle Ages.

As for where it is common today, it may not be particularly widespread due to natural dilution over centuries and the variant spellings that have come into use. The direct form 'De Kendal' may not be so common; however, the simplified forms such as 'Kendal' or 'Kendall' are more frequently observed, particularly in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. In terms of statistical prevalence, the United States appears to have the highest number of individuals with the 'Kendall' surname. However, it is important to understand that some people with this surname today might not have direct ancestral ties to the town of Kendal in England, due to the complex ways in which surnames can be adopted and changed over time.

Variations of the surname De Kendal

The surname De Kendal is of English origin and it signifies people who lived in the valley on the river Kent. Specific place names, like Kendal, can be altered depending on where the family relocates. Some people may adjust the name to better fit local dialect and spelling trends. As a result, De Kendal has several recorded variants like Kendale, Kendel, Kendell, Kendall, Kendol, Kendoll and Kendle.

Another way the surname could have been altered is through localization. When a family with the surname De Kendal moved to another county or country, their name may have been adjusted to be pronounced more easily in the local language, leading to different spellings and variants. For example, in French, the name could become De Kendall or Kendalle.

Surname variants may also be formed by adding or removing a prefix. In this case, “De” in De Kendal may be dropped to form Kendal, or it could be changed to something like Mc, giving McKendal.

Please note that each variant of the surname can also have sub variations based on region, language and the movement of people both historically and present day.

Famous people with the name De Kendal

• Simon de Kendal: British reality television personality.
• Rose de Kendal: Welsh artist.
• Shelley de Kendal: Former royal nanny to Princes William and Harry.
• Maleah de Kendal: British actress.
• Jen de Kendal: British Musician.
• Antonio de Kendal: Spanish filmmaker.
• Dave de Kendal: British songwriter, record producer and music executive.
• Reece de Kendal: English actor, producer and director.
• Cody de Kendal: British visual artist.
• Les de Kendal: English footballer.
• Kristine de Kendal: British singer-songwriter and music producer.
• Élise de Kendal: French feminist writer.
• Harry de Kendal: British director and producer.
• Bernard de Kendal: French professor of Veterinary Medicine.
• Chloe de Kendal: British singer.
• Spooks de Kendal: British rapper.
• Simone de Kendal: Swedish fashion designer.
• Gustavo de Kendal: Colombian politician.
• Tucker de Kendal: British singer and songwriter.
• Fabrice de Kendal: French sound designer.

Other surnames

De Kendale