This interesting and unusual surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and has two possible sources, both topographical. The first possibility is a dweller in the valley of Cynidr, and deriving from an Old English pre 7th Century personal name 'Cynidr', also an Anglo-Saxon saints name, with 'denu', a valley. Cynidr appears as 'Kenedr' in 1291. However, Kenderdine may also derive from another Old English personal name 'Cynred', as in Kinderton in Cheshire, first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Cinbretune', and in 1240 as 'Kindreton'. The second element is identical with 'denu' (above). Among the recordings in Cheshire is the marriage of John Kenderdine and Margery Dunn on January 2nd 1756, Tattenhall, and in London, of Thomas Kenderdine and Ann Jobling on July 6th 1733, at St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Kenerden, which was dated August 6th 1558, St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, 'Good Queen Bess', 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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