Cunedda, a chieftain of the Votadini
tribe of Lothian, was sent by the Saxon leader, Vortigern, to south west Scotland to establish
settlements intended to resist Picto-Scottish sea raids.
These settlements spread down the west coast as far as
north Wales. In the Celtic language Cunedda was rendered
as Cinneidigh (meaning ugly- or grim-headed), and the
name gradually became especially associated with the
district of Carrick in Ayrshire. Gilbert Mac Kenedi
witnessed a charter granting lands in Carrick to the
abbey at Melrose in the early part of the reign of
William the Lion, while Gillespie Kennedy is named as
senechal of Carrick in charters during the reign of
Alexander II. The Kennedys claimed blood kinship with the
Earls of Carrick and supported Bruce in the War of
Independence. They were rewarded when Robert II confirmed
John Kennedy of Dunure as chief of his name and baillie
of Carrick in 1372. His direct descendent, Gilbert, was
created Lord Kennedy around 1457, was one of the regents
of infant James III. His brother James, the Bishop of St.
Andrews, was one of the most outstanding prelates in
Scottish mediaeval history who expanded Scotland’s
first university by adding the College of St.
Salvator’s.
Sir David, 3rd Lord Kennedy, was
created Earl of Cassillis in 1509 and died at Flodden in
1513. The 6th Earl of Cassillis, John, was Lord Justice
General of Scotland from 1649 to 1651. He earned a place
in folklore when he stopped his wife from eloping with
Sir John Faa of Dunbar who was perhaps a gypsy king. The
Earl imprisoned her for life and hanged Sir John and his
followers.
When the 8th Earl died without heirs,
there was a three-year court dispute to determine the
succession. The House of Lords finally found in favour of
Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean in preference to William,
Earl of March and Ruglan. Sir Thomas’s brother,
David, an advocate, succeeded him in 1775 as 10th Earl,
and was an active improver. He commissioned the architect
Robert Adam to build the castle at Culzean, now
considered to be Adam’s masterpiece.
On the death of the 10th Earl, the
title passed to a kinsman who had settled in America,
Captain Archibald Kennedy. He tried to be neutral during
the American War of Independence, and was accordingly
mistrusted by both sides. Half of his New York properties
were confiscated, including Number 1, Broadway, which was
appropriated by George Washington. His son, the 12th
Earl, was a close friend of the Duke of Clarence, who, on
his coronation as William IV, created him Marquess of
Ailsa. Lieutenant General Sir Clark Kennedy of Knockgray
served throughout the Peninsular War. At Waterloo in
1815, he as in command of the centre squadron of the
Royal Dragoons and personally captured the eagle and
colours of the 105th Regiment of French Infantry.
The 5th Marquess presented Culzean
Castle to the National Trust of Scotland. Archibald
Kennedy, 7th Marquess of Ailsa (b. 1925), is the present
Chief. The name became more prevalent with the influx of
Irish Kennedys in the 1850’s; it is now the 50th
most common name in Scotland.
Kennedy
