Pages last updated on 6/8/2004.

Kinnamon Family Overview

The most comprehensive and best source of information on the family is a book written by Lester B. Kinnamon, The Kinnamon Family In America, which was self-published in 1983. Lester documented almost every reference to the name Kinnamon and its variant spellings including census records, land records, original wills, family Bible records, and personal contacts with family members. The book has over 400 pages with preface, introduction, text, references, and index. Lester cited 2,703 individual names with genealogies in the Kinnamon family. The book is available on microfilm from any Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints through their Salt Lake City, Utah Genealgy Library. Much of the information on these pages is extracted from Lester's book.

Kinnamons in America originated in the mid-1600s in Talbot County, Maryland. Colonial records are rife with references to the immigrant John Kininmont and his many children. The earliest record of John Kininmont is a statement dated July 13, 1658, in which a "Christopher Oakley enrolls his rights viz: one hundred acres of land upon an old warrant of Humphrey Lloyds . . . also for transportation and on behalf of John Kennimount, Anne Kennimount his wife, Patrick Kennimount John Kennimount his sons, William Meffet, John Sutton who were transported betwixt 1654 and 1657." (Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland, Patents, Liber Q, Folio 62).

In public records there are three Kininmonts named as arriving in Maryland in the 1600s: John Kininmont in 1654 (Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland, Patents, Liber CB 2, Folio 32), Hugh Kennement in 1663 (Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland, Patents, Liber CB 2, Folio 32), and Alexander Kininmont, sometime before 1673 or 1674 (Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland, Original Will, Box 14, Folder 3). John is the ancestor of a large number of Americans today and much is learned of him in subsequent public records. Only one record, dated May 29, 1664, mentions Hugh Kennement stating that Peter Clery transported transported Hugh Kennement into Maryland in November of 1663 (Dorchester County Public Library, Maryland Room, Magruder Passano, History of Maryland (Baltimore, Md.: Williams & Wilkins Company, 1915), p. 43). Some researchers suggest that Hugh was a brother to John, but no document exists to substantiate this belief.

A few records exist that involve Alexander Kininmont. Lester Kinnamon notes, "From these it was learned that [Alexander] settled in Talbot County, Maryland, and it appears that he was related to John Kininmont." (Lester Kinnamon, The Kinnamon Family In America, privately published 1983, p. viii). Alexander witnessed the signature of William Jones to an instrument dated March 3, 1673/74 that assigned John Kininmont his rights to 50 acres of land called Batchelors Hope (Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland, Harry L. Harcum, Commissioner, Biennial Report of the Commissioner of the Land Office from October 1, 1950 to June 30, 1952, p. 6). Alexander died in 1721 and Ambrose Kininmont, the eldest son of John, served as Administrator of his estate (Dorchester County Public Library, Maryland Room, Magruder Passano, History of Maryland (Baltimore, Md.: Williams & Wilkins Company, 1915), pp. 32-33). It is unclear exactly how Alexander was related to John.

There is no evidence that Hugh or Alexander had any descendants in America. Virtually every Kinnamon living today is descended from John Kininmont, the Immigrant who came to Talbot County, Maryland. And fully half of those with the spelling Kinnaman can claim John as their ancestor. There are no fewer than a dozen variations in the spelling of the family surname, but Kinnamon, Kinnaman, Kinneman, and Kinnamont are the most prevalent today.

No one knows for sure when and where John was born. The Kininmont name is of Scottish origin and John used several Scottish names for parcels of the nearly one thousand acres of land he would acquire in the New World. The best speculation is that John was from Fife, perhaps born in Dunfermline. Other speculation is that he was from Dundee or that he came to America by way of England. John's ancestral and national origin is further investigated in the section on John the Immigrant.

John came to America, apparently in 1654, with his wife Anne, and sons John and Patrick. By 1663 or 1664 the family was established on the eastern shore of Maryland. Another son, Ambrose, arrived in Maryland several years later. He was the eldest and may have been ill and stayed with relatives when John immigrated earlier. Also an Alexander Kininmont came to Maryland and Ambrose was executor of his will. It is uncertain how Alexander was related to the family. He apparently died without issue, at least in America. Nothing is known of Alexander beyond the context of his will.

The immigrant John had ten children in all, seven boys and three girls:

Ambrose (died in late 1703 or early 1704) - Ambrose has many descendants traceable with one generational link unproven.

Patrick (died about 1698) - Patrick did not marry and had no children.

John (died in 1693) - John did not marry and had no children.

Mary (died in 1729)

Joseph (died in 1714) - Joseph has many descendants traceable with a key generational link unproven.

Margaret

Andrew (died in 1713)

Hannah

Benjamin

Francis (born in 1688, died in 1717) - Francis has many traceable descendants.

For a detailed review of these children and their lives, see the section on the First Generation.

Coat-of-Arms

(Scotland)

ARMS: Azure, a chevron argent, in chief three fleur-de-lis of the second

CREST: An oak tree, vert.

MOTTO: STABO (I shall stand)

EXPLANATION: The shield is described as “azure” which is the heraldic term for blue and represents “the clearness of the sky when all clouds are exiled.” It also signifies loyalty and truth. The “chevron” is said to have been adopted from the bow of a war saddle which rose high in front, usually given to those who had accomplished some work of faithful service. The term “argent” means silver which is a royal color representing exceeding light and purity. The “chief” is the upper portion of the shield. The “fleur-de-lis” as translated from the French “flower-of-the-lily” is the name given to an ornamental device comprising three likenesses of the lily or Iris plant. It is said that the three leaves represent Faith, Wisdom, and Valor. The “second” refers to the second color mention which is silver.

CREST: The crest is derived from the Latin word “crista” meaning a comb or tuft and is a device mounted on the helmet by means of a wreath of twisted ribbons. Crests were most often worn in tournaments and were constructed of wood or of softened leather. The crest of the KININMONT coat-of-arms consists of an oak tree described as “vert” (green). The oak signifies Constancy, Strength, and Long Life.

MANTLING: The mantling around the shield is more or less ornamental and signifies the cloak worn over the helmet and armor in warfare. It was used to protect the wearer from the sun and to deaden the effect of the sword thrust. It is shown in scroll to represent the tearing and shattering of this cloak in battle and consists of the prominent colors and metal used in the shield.

AUTHORITY: Burke’s General Armory and Fairbain’s Crests of Leading Families

The Surnames of Scotland, Their Origin, Meaning, and History

by George F. Black, Ph.D. (1866-1948)

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: A47-1716
Published by The New York Public Library, 1946, 1962, and 1965.

KININMONT, KININMONTH, KINNINMONTH. Of territorial origin from lands of the name in Fife. There are two Kininmonths in Fife, one in the parish of Monimail, the other near Pitscottie. Kinmont in Annandale was Kynmund in 1529. Kyninmonthe now Kinmouth is in Banffshire. Among the witnesses to a charter granted by Ernald, bishop of St. Andrews (1160-62, is Odo marescallus, 'Odo the marshal' (RPSA., p. 127). In later charters this Odo appears as the dapifer (ibid., p. 45, 134, 175, etc.; Scon, 40), or senescald (ibid., p. 135, 141, etc.) of Bishop Richard (1188-1202). About 1189-99 William the Lion confirmed to him a charter of the lands of Kynninmonth which had been granted by the prior of St. Andrews (Macfarlane, II, p. 531, 533). His son Adam frequently appears as a charter witness simply as Ada or Adam filius Odonis (RPSA., p. 154, 157, 260, etc.; Scon, 84). Between 1250-60 Adam filius Odonis with consent of his wife and John his heir, made a sale and granted a charter to the prior of St. Andrews of his land "in villa Sancti Andree cum edificiis in ea constructis" (RPSA., p. 281). "John's charter is not recorded; but his original deed of consent, executed at the same time, and before the same witnesses, with the charter of his father, is still extant; and on his seal we find the family surname for the first time: S' Iohannis de Kininmvnd" (ibid., preface, p. xviii). Matthew, brother of Odo, was bishop of Aberdeen, 1172-00 (REA., I, preface, p. xx-xxi). Elias de Kininmund witnessed a Fife charter granted in 1228 (Laing, 6), and c. 1290 another Helya de Kynninmond witnessed a charter of lands "Johanni filio Willelmi filii Lambini" (ibid., 15). William de Kynemuthe of Edinburghshire rendered homage, 1296. His seal reads: Sigill. Willi de Kinmonet (Bain, II, p. 201, 551). Alexander de Kinnemunt, canon of Brechin in 1332 (Pap. Lett., II, p. 223), archdeacon of Lothian, 1327 (LSC., 88; RAA., I, p. 339) was elected bishop of Aberdeen, 1329 (Dowden, p. 110), and a later Alexander de Kyninmund was elected to the same bishopric in 1356 (REA., I, preface, p. xxx). Provision was made in 1329 of a canonry and prebend of Aberdeen to Malisius de Kinninmont (Pap. Lett., II, p. 297), and another Malisius de Kynynmonde was juror on the lands of Fife, 1390 (RMS., I, 854). Jamys of Kyninmond of that Ilke in 1438 asserted his right to the office of bailie, steward, and marischel under the prior of St. Andrews, which his remote ancestors held under the early bishops (RPSA., preface, p. xix). In an old French chronicle mention is made of several Scots who fought at the battle of Liége, 14 September, 1407, among whom is Helis de Guenemont. Other Kininmonts who settled in Burgundy and Touraine, and acquired large estates there, appear in French records as Quinemonts (Burton, Scot abroad, I, p. 66, 82). Others of the name (Kinnemond, Kinninmundt) settled in Sweden, but the family there has now died out. In Scotland the old family of the name terminated early in the eighteenth century in an heiress, Grissel, who married Sir William Murray of Melgund. Kennemuthe 1296, Keyninmonth, 1639, Kinemunthe 1291, Kinenmont 1653, Kinindmund c. 1228, Kininmund 1303, Kinninmint 1714, Kinninmonthe and Kinnynmonthe 1651, Kinninmunth 1298, Kyninmond 1438, Kynnemunth 1296, Kynnynmonde 1427, Kynynmoncht 1536. The name of Janet Kinugmont in Wester Balnabriche, 1621 (Brechin) is probably a misspelling. There was a D. Kinninmont in Anstruther, 1816.

KINMAN. This surname is most probably a shortened form of KINNINMONTH, q.v. John Ky(n)man witnessed a quitclaim of the land of Drumkarauch in 1260 (RPSA., p. 346). Johannes Kynman was senescallus to Sir Gilbert de Haya (Cupar-Angus, I, p. 339). The S' Nicolaii Kynman is appended to a resignation of the lands of Megginch, 1461 (Seals Supp., 591). William Kinmond of Hill, 1652 appears again in 1665 as William Kinman of Hill when again granted a bond in favor of Mr. Henry Malcome (DPD., I, p. 107; II, p. 454). Andrew Kinmann was burgess of Dundee in 1651 (Brechin), and Sophie Kinman had letters of alienation of the lands of Mureaidge in the lordship of Errol in 1664 (DPD., I, p. 151). Kynman 1658.

KINMONT. Local, from Kinmont in the lordship of Methven, Perthshire. Robert de Kinmont was vicar of the parish church of Cupar, 1440 (RD., p. 300), Robert Kynmont in Dundee was charged with aiding the English, 1552 (Beats, p. 327), and Andrew Kinmont was burgess of Dundee, 1634 (Brechin). Recorded in Errol, 1941.

Origin and Meaning of Kininmonth

This item was copied at the Hays-Flemming Library in St. Andrews, Scotland, by Glenn H. Kinnaman in 1985.

Celtic place names in Scotland

In Kinglassie Parish in Fifeshire, Scotland is Kininmonth, for (CINN FHINNMHONAIDH), 'Head of white hill'; the English form, it is to be noted, shows neither aspiration after FINN nor inflection--with these it would be 'Kininvonie.' There is also Kininmonth near Pitscotie. And three places called Kininmonth just northwest of Peterhead, Scotland.

Regesta Regum Scottorum

Page 186, Item 120

This is the oldest written paper, with date, ever found on the family Kininmonth. This item was found and copied at Hays-Flemming Library in St. Andrews, Scotland, by Glenn H. Kinnaman in 1985.

Confirms to Matthew, Arch-deacon of St. Andrews, the grant made to him by King David I in the abthain of Rossie (in the carse of Gowrie); the grant which he has from Bishop Robert of St. Andrews in the abthain; Kininmonth (in Ceres, Fife) with the toft in Kilrymont, as granted to him by the bishop, prior and whole convent of St. Andrews; 'Kinkellet' and Innergellie (in Kilrenny, Fife), granted to him by Bishop Robert; and the parish Church of St. Andrews in so far as it pertains to the royal dignity. Perth. Dated 8 April 1153.

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Maintained and last updated 6/8/2004 by R.U. Kinnamon
E-Mail: RKinnamon@aol.com