Kennedys

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Plural form referring to several members of the prominent American political family that includes the Kennedy presidents and senators
2. Several people who belong to the Kennedy dynasty, the well-known American family associated with politics and public service
3. The relatives of the influential Massachusetts-based family of the Kennedy name, particularly its politicians of the twentieth century

Etymology: The plural "kennedys" simply refers to several members of the Kennedy family, so its history is really the history of the surname. "Kennedy" comes from Irish "Ó Cinnéidigh", a name built from "ceann", meaning "head", and "éidigh", meaning "ugly". The Scottish Gaelic form "Ceannaideach" uses the same two elements, so the name appears in both languages with the same sense. Despite the unflattering meaning, the name was never a mocking nickname in the usual sense; it was a family name that passed down through generations. The name is also linked to other Gaelic forms. Its roots connect it to "Kenneth", a name built from the same first element "ceann", and to the Irish verb "eitigh", meaning "refuse" or "reject". These relationships show how closely the surname sits within a family of related Gaelic words rather than standing alone.