Surname Kenmore - Meaning and Origin
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Kenmore: What does the surname Kenmore mean?
Kenmore is a Scottish surname, derived from the place-name Kenmore situated in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The name Kenmore is composed of two old Gaelic words - "ceann" which means "head" or "end", and "mor" which means "large". So, in a literal context, Kenmore could be translated from Gaelic to mean the "head of the large (area)" or "large headland". The geography of Kenmore, being at the northern end of the vast Loch Tay, could be the inspiration behind this name. The village of Kenmore is known for its scenic beauty and historic importance. Throughout history, individuals or families often adopted the name of their local land or geographical features as their surname, establishing their deep connection and identity with the land. Therefore, a person bearing the Kenmore surname would traditionally signal a familial or ancestral connection to the region of Kenmore in Scotland. However, today, as surnames have disseminated across regions and nations, this may not always hold true.
Order DNA origin analysisKenmore: Where does the name Kenmore come from?
The surname Kenmore originates from Scotland. It is a habitational name from a place in Perthshire named Kenmore, which in Gaelic is 'Ceannmhor', meaning big or great head. It possibly refers to a headland or elevated piece of ground.
The Kenmore surname is not common today; however, it is likely to be found in places where Scottish descendants have settled, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Please note that it might not be very prevalent, as within Scotland itself the name is not particularly widespread.
Additionally, it's worth mentioning that Kenmore is more widely recognized as a brand of household appliances sold by Sears, Roebuck & Co., and hence in the present day, it is often not considered primarily as a last name.
Variations of the surname Kenmore
The surname Kenmore, predominantly originating from Scotland, may be varied in spelling due to differences in dialect, translation or personal preference. Variants and different spellings could possibly include Kenmor, Kenmure, Kenmour, Cenmore or Kenmoor.
Another way of variation is through appending prefixes or suffixes to the name, such as MacKenmore or Kenmorely. Sometimes, surnames evolve through generations, becoming hyphenated or combined with other family names, creating names such as Kenmore-Smith or Wilson-Kenmore.
It is also important to note that Kenmore is a geographical name, named after places in Scotland. There are also versions which may have evolved from similar towns or landmarks in Scotland, such as Kilmuir or Kinmure.
Moreover, due to the migration of peoples, the name could have been changed or adapted to align more with the language of the new country, leading to other potential versions of this name.
As a surname, it is not that common, and despite the above suggestions of variants and spellings, it is likely majority of people with this last name spell it as “Kenmore”. As with all names, exact variants and derivations may be unique to individual families and their histories.
Famous people with the name Kenmore
- William Kenmore: renowned British actor who appeared in a variety of film and television productions
- Ingrid Kenmore: Australian-born musician and actor best known for her work on the animated series Wild Kratts
- Jacqueline Kenmore: British fashion model and television presenter
- James Kenmore: American World War II veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor
- Ed Shaughnessy: jazz drummer best known for his long tenure as the drummer in the band of Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show
- Elizabeth Kenerly: writer and co-founder of the science fiction publisher Baen Books
- Ted Kenmore: American sportswriter and journalist
- David Kenmore: British author and television presenter best known for the television series Emergency Ward 10
- Dwight Kenmore: American lawyer and politician who served as mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma from 1966 to 1967
- John Kenmore: Australian-born professional race car driver who raced in the Formula One World Championship