This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Kenan family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Kenan Family History

Kenan Surname Meaning

Irish: variant of Keenan. This surname is rare in Britain.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kenan family from?

You can see how Kenan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kenan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kenan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 7 Kenan families living in New Brunswick. This was about 50% of all the recorded Kenan's in Canada. New Brunswick had the highest population of Kenan families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kenan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Kenan ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kenan. 30% of Kenan men worked as a Farmer and 21% of Kenan women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kenan were Janitor and Clerk.

View Census Data for Kenan | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    30%
  • Laborer
    26%
  • Painter
    8%
  • Janitor
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    21%
  • Cook
    18%
  • Stenographer
    14%
  • Clerk
    11%

What Kenan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Kenan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kenan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Kenan

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Kenan. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kenan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Kenan. For the veterans among your Kenan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kenan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kenan family history

Discover More

What is the average Kenan lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Kenan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1980, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Kenan in 1956 was 57, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kenan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kenan ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kenan family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial