Ó Cinnéide

Rev Patrick Woulfe

Irish Names and Surnames

1923

Ó CINNÉIDE, Ó CINNÉIDIDH, Ó CINNÉIDIGH—I—O Kinedy, O'Kennedy, Kennedy; 'descendant of Cinnéididh' (helmeted-head); the name of at least two families in Ireland: (1) Ó C. of Ormond, a branch of the Dál gCais, who derive their name and descent from Cinnéidigh, son of Donnchuan the brother of Brian Boru. They were originally seated at Glenomra, coextensive with the present parish of Killokennedy, in the east of Co. Clare, but on being driven thence at an early period by the O'Briens and MacNamaras, they settled in Tipperary, in the baronies of Upper and Lower Ormond, where they became very numerous and far more powerful than they had ever been in their ancient home in Thomond. From the 12th to the 16th century, they ranked as lords of Ormond, and were divided into three great branches, viz: Ó C. Fionn (the Fair), Ó C. Donn (the Brown), and Ó C. Ruadh (the Red). (2) Ó C. of Clann Cearnaigh, a branch of the Ui Maine, in Co. Galway. The name is now very common throughout Ireland.

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