Kennedy comes from the flattering
Gaelic word cinneidigh, which in ancient Ireland meant "ugly headed". Crossing the Irish Sea to settle
in an area of Dalriada now called Carrick in Ayrshire, they were probably led by Gilbert, whose son Duncan became the 1st Earl of Carrick in the 12th century.
They supported the Bruces before and through the Wars of Independence and were rewarded. Around 1360 John Kennedy became
owner of lands at Cassillis and in 1457 his descendant, Gilbert, was created Lord Kennedy. Gilbert's younger brother James
was Bishop of St Andrews and founder of Scotland's first university, the
University of St Andrews.
To evade the law, Ulric Kennedy fled Ayrshire for Lochaber where
began the Clan Ulric. From them came the Kennedys of Skye. These families became a sept of the Clan Cameron.
Many Scots fought for the French through the Auld Alliance. At the English siege of Orleans Hugh Kennedy of Ardstinchar was a commander fighting for Joan
of Arc. The saint is represented on the Kennedy of Bargany coat of arms.
In 1509 the third Lord Kennedy became the 1st Earl of Cassillis,
losing his life on Flodden field in 1513.
The death warrant of Scotland's first Protestant martyr, Patrick Hamilton, was signed, under pressure, by the 3rd Earl, Gilbert, when twelve years old. He was poisoned
at Dieppe and the Earldom went to another Gilbert, celebrated
for roasting the Abbot of Crossraguel slowly over a fire to gain his land. The Abbot was saved by the Kennedys of Bargany
but not before being horribly crippled.
In 1775 the 10th Earl of Cassillis was David, who commissioned
Robert Adam to build the stunning Culzean Castle.
The half gothic, half classical masterpiece looks across the Firth of Clyde to the Ailsa Craig and was offered for use as
a retreat to Eisenhower in gratitude for his war achievements.
The earldom passed across the Atlantic to Royal Naval officer
Captain Archibald Kennedy who, on top of his Hoboken estates, owned more New York property than any other man. During the War of Independence he tried to sit on
the fence. This left him few friends and half of his estates were confiscated afterwards, George Washington taking No. 1 Broadway
for himself.
Culzean Castle was given to the National Trust by the 5th Marquess. The family chiefs still live in Ayrshire at
Culzean and Cassillis.