Kennedys of Moray: Exploring Their Scottish History Roots

The Kennedys of Moray represent a northern extension of the wider Clan Kennedy, a storied Scottish lineage rooted in Carrick, Ayrshire, by the 12th–13th century. The surname "Kennedy" itself originates from the Gaelic "Ceannaideach" (sometimes rendered "Cinneidigh"), often interpreted as "helmeted head" or "ugly head."

The emergence of a Kennedy presence in Moray is traditionally associated with Janet Kennedy, the daughter of Lord Kennedy, who became the mistress of King James IV. Their son, James Stewart, was granted the Earl of Moray in 1501, and Janet was awarded Darnaway Castle as part of the arrangement. According to genealogical studies, this act likely carried with it followers, retainers, and kin who moved north into Moray with her, thereby planting a branch of the Kennedys in the region.

In fact, baptisms of Kennedys in Morayshire remain sparse in parish records, suggesting that the Moray line may have remained relatively small or fragmented. Some accounts also note that certain families identified as the Kennedys of Moray, who later joined or were considered a sept of Clan Cameron, reflected the fluid allegiances of the Highland-Lowland frontier.

Over time, the Moray Kennedys adapted to local dynamics and often aligned with Highland influences. Some descendants, especially those in the Lochaber area, came to be seen as a sept of Clan Cameron, reflecting the intermixing of clan identities on Scotland's geographical borderlands.

While direct records of Moray-based Kennedy land holdings or castles are scarce, analysis of surname density suggests that Kingussie and the surrounding areas show significant concentrations of the name "Kennedy," hinting at sustained settlement in the broader Moray/Lochaber region.

The ascent of the Clan Kennedys in Moray is closely tied to their strategic insertion into northern noble networks through royal favor and land grants. The key turning point was when Janet Kennedy and her son, James Stewart, assumed control of the Earl of Moray title in 1501—ushering a Kennedy-aligned presence into that region.

James Stewart's elevation brought not only status but territorial influence: the earldom came with Darnaway Castle and associated lands, creating a base in Moray from which affiliated families and retainers could prosper. The relocation of some Kennedy relatives and clients helped cement their social and political foothold in the north.

Over time, segments of the Moray Kennedys interwove with Highland society. The traditional narrative holds that Ulric Kennedy, allegedly fleeing Ayrshire troubles, settled in Lochaber, and his descendants adopted local alliances—some of which became recognized as a sept of Clan Cameron. This maneuvering among clans in border regions mirrored the political flexibility necessary for survival in 16th to 17th-century Scotland.

However, it's important to note that while they gained respect and modest stature locally, the Moray Kennedys did not evolve into a great territorial power. Their influence remained secondary to that of the dominant regional clans, and they often operated in alliance or under the shadow of higher lords.

Although Darnaway is the principal documented seat, some genealogical studies suggest that peripheral lands and associations existed in the broader province of Moray—extending even into Kingussie and regions historically tied to Moray's southern limits. Moreover, the province of Moray, in older definitions, included valleys and glens stretching toward Badenoch and parts of Lochaber, making the "territories of influence" potentially significant, although not directly owned by the Kennedys.

The Kennedys of Moray had direct connections to the main Scottish Kennedy clan in Ayrshire and to other Kennedy families in the north. However, they developed a distinct identity shaped by royal patronage and alliances with powerful Highland clans.

• Kennedys of Kermuck: Another northern branch of the family, the Kennedys of Kermuck, were hereditary constables of Aberdeen for several generations. Their connection was more tied to the northeast of Scotland, but they shared the same original Ayrshire roots.

• Kennedys of Bargany: The Ayrshire Kennedys were famously involved in a bloody feud with their own relations, the Kennedys of Bargany, during the 16th century. The Moray branch was not directly involved in this feud, having already established its own path in the north.

• Kennedys of Skye: Some of the "Clan Ulric" Kennedys later settled on the Isle of Skye, establishing yet another branch of the northern Kennedys.

• Initial Catholicism: In the early 16th century, Scotland was still a Catholic nation. When Janet Kennedy, the daughter of the 2nd Lord Kennedy, entered into a relationship with King James IV, she, like her family in Ayrshire, was a Roman Catholic.

• Royal grant in Moray: The lands granted to Janet and her son, James Stewart, were held under the existing Catholic religious and social structure. Had their line continued, they would likely have participated in the patronage of local Catholic churches and monasteries. However, their occupation of Darnaway Castle was short-lived, limiting their religious influence in the region.

• The Reformation in Scotland: The Protestant Reformation, which arrived in Scotland in the mid-16th century, significantly altered the country's religious landscape. The Moray Kennedys' connection to the earldom faded just as these sweeping religious changes were beginning.

• Presbyterian conversions: Over time, particularly following the failed Jacobite uprisings and the subsequent suppression of the Highland clans, many families, including some Kennedys, were compelled to convert to Presbyterianism to retain their lands and social standing.

• Mixed legacy: Consequently, modern Kennedy descendants with roots in Moray and Lochaber may have a family history that includes both Catholic and Protestant branches. The Kennedy One-Name Study highlights how religious affiliations can shift over time due to political pressure, and that many Kennedys in Lochaber, unlike those in the Lowlands, maintained their Catholicism for a longer period.