This unusual surname, recorded in English Church Registers from the mid 16th Century under the variant spellings Kenryd, Kendred, Kinrade, Kyndred and Kindread, derives from a rare Anglo-Saxon male given name "Cenered", composed of the elements "cene, cen", bold, brave, proud, which became "kene" in Middle English (1200 - 1500), and raed", counsel; hence, "bold-counsel". This initial element is also found in the Olde English pre 7th Century "Cenwig", a name meaning "bold war", from which stems the modern surname Kenway, and in "Cenweard", "bold-guardian", source of the surnames Kenward and Kennard. The latter element "raed" occurs in "Ealdraed", noble-counsel, giving the surnames Allred and Alred. Pre 7th Century Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse baptismal names were usually distinctive compounds whose elements were often associated with the Gods of Fire, Water and War, or composed of disparate elements. On December 8th 1583, Myghell, son of Gregory Kendred, was christened at St. Andrew's, Holborn, London, and on July 25th 1589, the christening of Thomazain, daughter of Elizabeth Kindred, took place at Worlingham, Suffolk. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Wyllm Kenryd, which was dated October 9th 1542, witness at the christening of his son, Stephen, at Kelsale, Suffolk, during the reign of King Henry V111, known as "Bluff King Hal", 1509 - 1547. 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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