The Kendall surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 31,209 people carried this name — #1,126 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 9,450 people counted. That is up 6% from 29,524 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Kendall surname

A habitational surname from Old English.

From the placename Kendal in Cumbria, "valley of the river Kent", and Kendale in Humberside, from Old Norse kelda (“spring”) + dalr (“valley”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Kendall» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Kendal’.

An early record he cites: Johannes de Kendall, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Kendal, Kendall, Kendell, Kendle and Kendel.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 444 · public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 27 people named Kendall live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 27

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Kendall was found among the farmers of 6 counties.

It was most frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland: 26 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 385. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Leicestershire and Rutland 26
Cumberland and Westmorland 25
Yorkshire, North and East Ridings 17
Yorkshire, West Riding 15
Cornwall 12
Lancashire 9

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

195 families named Kendall, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,158 people lived in those households, 5.9 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 14 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 77
Vermont 21
Pennsylvania 21
New Hampshire 19
Connecticut 16
North Carolina 11
Maryland 9
Maine 8
Virginia 7
New York 4
South Carolina 2

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 248 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Kendall in American newspapers,
1838–1902.

Newspaper page from Richmond Dispatch carrying the name Kendall
Richmond Dispatch 1902-02-07
Newspaper page from Richmond Enquirer carrying the name Kendall
Richmond Enquirer 1838-10-05
Newspaper page from The Princeton Union carrying the name Kendall
The Princeton Union 1892-07-28

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 13,706 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Kendall in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

65,856 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Kendall. The most, 10,527, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Victoria, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 29,241
Victoria 19,652
Queensland 7,566
Western Australia 3,894
South Australia 3,782
Tasmania 1,297
ACT (Canberra) 277
Northern Territory 15

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Kendall.

Who carried it

People named Kendall,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Enion Kendall d. 1856 · writer
  • Alan Kendall d. 2011 · hematologist
  • Howard C. Kendall d. 1913 · politician
  • John Kendall d. 1501
  • Ada Mary Kendall d. 1961
  • Maude Mary Brind Kendall d. 1958

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Kendall,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,528 records

2,528 records of the Kendall name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,041
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 437
  • Other U.S. records 1,050
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record James D. Kendall

    Born 1948; from National City, California. U.S. Army, oh-13/oh-23 helicopter repairman; died in an accident 1968 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam. Buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John S. Kendall

    Born 1918 in Minnesota. Enlisted 1941 at Albert Lea; driver. U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War; died 1990, buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minnesota.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Annie Kendall

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Etruria from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 41; matron. From London, England; bound for Fall River.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 2,528 records for Kendall in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,457 records

1,457 records of the Kendall name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 743
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 308
  • Other Australian records 406
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record John Kendall

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Lady Ridley, sailing from England in 1821. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1836. Married 1836 in Launceston, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Thomas Kingston Kendall

    Married 1882 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 31. Died 1924 in Tasmania, aged 72.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Lilian Maria Kendall

    Born 1891 in Hobart, Tasmania. Died 1913 in Tasmania, aged 22.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,457 records for Kendall in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Canada272 records

272 records of the Kendall name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 161
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 42
  • Other Canadian records 69
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Wm Kendall

    Came to Ontario in 1879 aboard the Sardinian, landing at Quebec, bound for King, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Frank Abraham Kendall

    Buried in 1972 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 30.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Hilda Jean Kendall

    Died 1937 in North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 272 records for Kendall in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom82 records

82 records of the Kendall name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 60
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 16
  • Other British records 6
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Stanley Kendall

    Died 1985, aged 67; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Pauline Kendall

    Will proved in 1937; of Paignton, Devon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record F. B. Kendall

    Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 82 records for Kendall in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand30 records

30 records of the Kendall name in New Zealand
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 13
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 11
  • Other New Zealand records 6
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Frank Kendall

    Died 1991, aged 79; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record George Kendall

    Buried in 1898 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 42.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Lester George Kendall

    Born 1909, died 1996; ashes interred at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 30 records for Kendall in New Zealand.

Counts: Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France5 records

5 records of the Kendall name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jack Kendall

    Born 1928 in Great Britain; died 1994 in Brest (Finistère).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Alice Elisabteh Kendall

    Born 1911 in Turkey; died 1993 in Thonon-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Kendall in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands5 records

5 records of the Kendall name in the Netherlands Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Edward Stephen Kendall

    Married in 1947 in Nijmegen; clerk.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Richard Walter Kendall

    Died 1907 in 's-Gravenzande, aged 57.

    Open Archives, Historisch Archief Westland (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Kendall in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Kendall.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Kendall is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Kendall volume
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