Keenlyside

The hamlet of Kinneyside in the parish of St. Bees, Cumbria is believed to be the place of origin of this unusual name. The derivation is from the Olde English words "cena" a personal name meaning "the Bold one" plus "leah" a farm or enclosure, plus "Side" meaning "a Hill Side". The name development includes the following recordings which are both later than usual and particularly prevalent (in different spellings) in the Township of Milburn. Elizabeth Kindleyside who may be also the first recorded person (below) married John Oglethorp at Milburn in 1771, but is more likely to be the Elizabeth Kidleysides, who married Isaac Holmes, also at Milburn on April 9th 1787. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elizabeth Keenleysidy, which was dated 1765, christened at Milburn Church, Cumberland, during the reign of King George III, "Farmer George", 1760 - 1820. 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.