Surname Kinkaid - Meaning and Origin
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Kinkaid: What does the surname Kinkaid mean?
The surname Kinkaid is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic term "ceann" meaning "head" and "caid" meaning "pass", which together imply "head of the pass" or "leader". This term was likely used to denote someone who lived at or near the top of a mountain pass or someone who was seen as a leader in their community. The name is also associated with the Clan Kincaid in Scotland, which has historical connections to a land area called "Kincaid" in the parish of Campsie, north of Glasgow. Over time, the original Gaelic spelling of the name has been Anglicized into a number of forms, including Kinkaid, Kincaid, Kinkead, etc. As with most surnames, the exact meaning can vary based on historical and cultural context.
Order DNA origin analysisKinkaid: Where does the name Kinkaid come from?
The surname Kinkaid is of Scottish origin, coming from the term "ceann caid", which roughly translates to "the head of the pass." This name has been associated with the lands of Kinkaid in Stirlingshire, Scotland from as early as the 12th century. Clan Kincaid is considered one of the ancient clans of Scotland. Today, the surname Kinkaid or Kincaid is spread across various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. It is commonly found in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. Even within these countries, the distribution is not uniform. In the United States, for example, the largest concentration of people named Kinkaid can be found in states like California, Texas, and Ohio.
Variations of the surname Kinkaid
The surname Kincaid or Kinkaid has its origin in Scotland. It is believed to have been derived from a place of the same name in the county of Stirlingshire. Variations of the surname spread and took different forms as families moved out and populated different regions.
Alternative spellings and variants of the surname Kincaid include Kinkead, Kinkeid, Kinkade, Kinkeit, Kincaide, Kincade, Kyncade, Kinkeid, Kinkied and Kyncad. There are also some variations with apostrophes such as Kin'caid or Kin'kead.
Given the phonetic nature of the surname, there are also more phonetically spelled versions like Kinkayd, Kinkaed, or Kinkaide. Some variants include more drastic orthographic changes like Kinsheid, Kyneshead, Cunshed, Kingshead, or even Kingshaw.
In terms of surnames of the same origin, the name Kincaid derives from Gaelic elements that mean 'head of the rock' or 'head of the cliff', so you might find other Scottish surnames with similar meanings, such as Craig (meaning 'rock') or Cliff or Clive (meaning 'cliff').
It's crucial to remember that surname variations can often be influenced by various factors including regional dialects, literacy levels, and personal preference. Thus, there may be more variants than those listed above.
Famous people with the name Kinkaid
- Alexa Kinkaid: American child actress, known for her roles on shows like Big City Greens and Raven's Home.
- Dave Kinkaid: NHL goaltender who appeared in two games with the San Jose Sharks in 2007.
- Jack Kinkaid: American actor best known for his role in the film Ring of Fire.
- John Kinkaid: American journalist who was the TV and radio voice of Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes from 1996 to 2016.
- Lori Beth Kinkaid: American actress and comedian best known for her roles on Saturday Night Live, The Drew Carey Show, and the 1997 film Runaway Bride.
- Marla Kinkaid: American actor best known for her roles on TV shows like Pretty Little Liars and Raising the Bar.
- Marie Kinkaid: French film actress and producer.
- Mary Kinkaid: American voice actress and scriptwriter, best known for her role as Betty Boop in the classic Max Fleischer cartoons.
- Meredith Kinkaide: American plugin-hybrid vehicle engineer and CEO, co-founder of the lightweight hydrogen vehicle startup Skai.
- Sean Kinkaid: US Navy admiral who served as Commander of the US Naval Research Laboratory between 2017 and 2019.