KENDREW
The surname Kendrew is recognisable as an English family name established within the British Isles. It is a patronymic surname that originally served to identify the descendants of an individual bearing the personal name Kendrew.
According to existing records, the name originates from the Old English personal name Cyneheard, which conveys the meaning "royal hardy" or "bold ruler". Over time, the personal name was adapted into a family name through the patronymic practice common in medieval England.
An alternative etymological explanation links the surname to the Greek personal name Andreas, derived from andreios meaning "manly". This form is connected with the Christian saint Andrew, whose name appears as "Andreas" in the Domesday Book of 1086. Among the variant surnames that arise from the same root are Andrews, Andress, Andells, Anderson and the Scottish patronymic McAndrew. The Northern English variant that evolved into Kendrew reflects regional linguistic changes.
Historical evidence of the name appears in several early documents. A 1237 entry in the Fees Court Rolls of Buckinghamshire records a person named William Andreu, demonstrating the early presence of the surname in England during the reign of King Henry II. Further, a record in the 1648 marriage register at North Otterington, Yorkshire, shows that an Elizabeth Kendrew married Richard Bell, indicating the continued use of the name into the early modern period.
Through centuries of use, the surname Kendrew has maintained its distinct identity within English society, particularly in the northern regions where it remains relatively common. Its origin as a patronymic of an Old English personal name, coupled with its historical documentation, attests to the rich linguistic heritage embodied by the name.
Typical given names associated with the Kendrew surname
Male
- David
- Ian
- John
- Matthew
- Michael
- Paul
- Philip
- Richard
- Robert
- Simon
- Stephen
Female
- Alice
- Anne
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Laura
- Lesley
- Margaret
- Marjorie
- Mary
- Michelle
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Kendrew in...
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There are approximately 538 people named Kendrew in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around eight in a million people in Britain are named Kendrew.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Kendrew
- John Kendrew - Biochemist and crystallographer (1917 to 1997)
- Douglas Kendrew - Army general and Governor of Western Australia (1910 to 1989)
- Norman Kendrew - Cricketer (1908 to 1966)
- Wilfrid George Kendrew - (1884 to 1962)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.