Kennedy

Kennedy comes originally from Gaelic origins. It is derived from the Gaelic elements ceann meaning ‘head’ and eidigh meaning ‘ugly’. These two words were combined as a nickname for someone who was likely a clan leader. This name was then passed on as a patronymic surname to other clan members. It would have then become a hereditary surname. Many surnames then became used as forenames. It was originally a masculine forename but is now used for both boys and girls. It does not really still hold the original meaning. The name is now most famously associated with J F Kennedy the ex American president.