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Kilkenney Family History

Kilkenney Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Kilkenny, Kilkelly, Lenney, Clenney, Kinney, Glenney, Mckenney

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Kilkenney family from?

You can see how Kilkenney families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kilkenney family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Kilkenney families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 8 Kilkenney families living in Massachusetts. This was about 28% of all the recorded Kilkenney's in USA. Massachusetts had the highest population of Kilkenney families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kilkenney surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Kilkenney ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Clerk and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kilkenney. 50% of Kilkenney men worked as a Clerk and 50% of Kilkenney women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kilkenney were Salesman and Sales Clerk. .

View Census Data for Kilkenney | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    50%
  • Salesman
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housework
    50%
  • Sales Clerk
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Kilkenney family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 655 census records available for the last name Kilkenney. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kilkenney census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Kilkenney

Passenger Lists

There are 117 immigration records available for the last name Kilkenney. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kilkenney immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 100 military records available for the last name Kilkenney. For the veterans among your Kilkenney ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kilkenney military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kilkenney family history

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What is the average Kilkenney lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2000, in the United States, Kilkenney life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1971, and highest in 1980. The average life expectancy for Kilkenney in 1963 was 77, and 58 in 2000.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kilkenney

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kilkenney family tree

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