Surname McKendrick - Meaning and Origin

McKendrick: What does the surname McKendrick mean?

The last name McKendrick is of Scottish origin and is a form of the Gaelic name MacKendrick which translates to “son of the great ruler”. This surname would have been used to denote one of the families of the Clan Mackenzie whose origin is said to date back to the 11th or 12th century when they settled in the Scottish Highlands.

The presence of the McKendrick family is especially evident in the Argyll and Bute area of Scotland, where the family have an ancestral home. According to historical records, the McKendrick clan has been dominant in the area since at least the 15th century.

The family have historically been farmers, but this occupation has gradually broadened over time to encompass a variety of trades and professions. Some members of the clan are known to have joined the military, with many serving with the famous Black Watch of the British Army.

The name McKendrick is still a prominent name across the region and the extended clan is likely to have a strong presence in Scotland for centuries to come. They carry with them the proud legacy of their Scottish Highland ancestry wherever they go and serve the modern world with the same spirit that has always been a part of their family.

McKendrick: Where does the name McKendrick come from?

The surname McKendrick is most commonly found in Scotland today, particularly in the Highlands, Gaelic and Argyll & Bute regions. It is also a popular surname in Northern Ireland, particularly in Belfast. Although the origin of the clan is uncertain, it is believed to have originated with Gilchrist Makendreic, a Viking settler living in Lennox in the 12th century.

As part of the Highland Clans, the McKendricks were mainly located in the west of Scotland. The main concentration of the clan tends to come from Stirlingshire, Argyllshire, Lanarkshire and Perthshire. The name has been spelt in various ways and variations such as MacKendrik, Mackinder, and McKendry are common.

The McKendricks have a long and proud tradition in Scotland and many of their descendants still live in the Scottish Highlands and Southern Ireland today. Popular variations of the name elsewhere include McKendrick in the US, McKenrick in Canada and McKendry in Australia.

The surname is still commonly used in Scotland although it is now less frequent than before. In the US, the surname is ranked 3,384 out of 88,799 in terms of popularity. In Canada, it ranks 6,940 out of 86,403. Meanwhile, in Australia it is listed as the 1,175th most common surname.

Variations of the surname McKendrick

The surname McKendrick is believed to be of Irish origin and is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic MacCoinneir. The variants, spellings, and other variations of the surname McKendrick include McKendrick, McKendry, M’Kendrick, Mackendrick, McKendryck, MacKendrick, Kendrick, Kenrick, McKenrick, McKenry, McKennery, MacKendry, MacKendryck, McKendryck, MacKendrick, MacKintrick, MacKintryck, MacKendryk, Kendric, Kendriz and many more.

Many of the spellings of the surname McKendrick were particularly common in areas such as Ireland, Scotland, and England, where the name was adopted in different ways, depending on local accent and pronunciation during the many invasions, frequent occupations, and settlements of those regions. The variations of the surname McKendrick are found all throughout the British Isles, including Scotland, England, and Ireland.

The variations of the surname McKendrick were derived from the 12th century Gaelic surname MacCoinneir, which was anglicized to McKendrick by English-speaking people. In the 12th century, Ireland was a Gaelic speaking country and the original Irish Gaelic form of the surname was MacCoinneir which is pronounced MacKWEIN-YEER. Over time, the spelling of the surname changed due to dialect and pronunciation.

The spellings McKendrick, McKendry, M’Kendrick, Mackendrick and McKenrick are found most commonly in Scotland and Ireland, while the spellings Kendric, Kenrick, Kendriz and McKenry are more popular in England. With the dispersal of the surname McKendrick to various locations throughout the British Isles, there is a rich variety of spelling variations.

Famous people with the name McKendrick

• Alexander McKendrick: Scottish film director, essayist and screenwriter who won many British and international awards for his work. His most famous films include the 1951. classic The Man in the White Suit, 1955's The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Sweet Smell of Success (1957).
• Kendrick Lamar: American hip hop artist and songwriter. He has won a string of Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song.
• Heather McKendrick: Professional triathlete and motivational speaker. She has won numerous medals in triathlons, Ironmans, and marathons, and was named a U.S. National Champion in multi-sport multiple times.
• Kevin McKendrick: American professional football player who played cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings from 1997-2002.
• William McKendrick: American actor who has appeared on television shows such as The Walking Dead, Castle, and in films such as The Avengers (2012), Pacific Rim (2013), and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).
• Sylvia McKendrick: Accomplished British ballerina and former Principal at the Royal Ballet. She has performed in many productions of The Royal Ballet, including the title role in Giselle, Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
• Mark McKendrick: Famous American artist, sculptor, and photographer. He is known internationally for his abstract works which have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, including the Whitney Museum in New York City.

Other surnames

McKendrieMcKendry