The origins of the surname Keenlyside

There are two versions for the origin of Keenlyside. Both are agreed that it is an unusual surname of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a northern English locational name. It is here that the two accounts part company. The first, and most likely suggestion names the hamlet of Keenley in Northumberland. The second has Kinniside in the parish of St Bees in Cumberland as the origin. 

The component elements of Keenley are believed to be the Olde English pre 7th Century personal byname "Cena" meaning keen or bold, with "leah" meaning glade or clearing, with the later addition of the Middle English side or hillside - hence Keenlyside -  the bold man in the glade by the hillside.

Recorded as Kynisheved in 1322 the Cumberland place is so called from the Olde English "Cena" as above or "Cyne" a byname meaning king with "heafod" meaning headland or summit. Locational surnames were originally given to the Lord of the Manor or as a means of identification to those who left their place of origin to settle elsewhere. According to the Inquisitions Post Mortem at the time of Edward 11, Thomas de Multon of Egremont had in his possession a place called Kynisheved with 47 tenants bringing in a rent of £8 12s 8d.

The more compelling argument for the origin of Keenlyside lies in Allendale. The name Keenley is amongst the earliest local names in Allendale and derives from the personal name of a one time owner, according to Hubert Dixon in An Allendale Miscellany published by Frank Graham in 1974. In The Place Names of Northumberland and Durham by Dr Alan Mawer published in 1920 Keenley is found in lists from the 13th Century and in a 1230 Register of Walter Gray, Archbishop of York.

Keenley in Allendale was a member of the regality of Hexham and was described as a hamlet in a survey of 1536. By 1546 no village existed there and only two tenements were recorded in 1608 and 1628. Although the exact site of the medieval village is not known it may lie near a tithe barn. Here the ground is irregular but there are no clear signs of village earthworks.

In a survey of Hexham Manor which took place in 1547 Kenelesilde was held by Roger Kenlesyde at a rent of 6/-(six shillings) and one parcel of land called Kindelfyldehil was held by Michael Kendlesilde at a rent of 7/4d (seven shillings and four pence). This seems to match up with the account that only two tenements remained after 1546.
 
As William Keenlyside held Kinleyside Hill in 1608 at the rent of 13s 8d it may be inferred that he was in possession of both tenements which were then worth £4 over and above the rent. In 1663 Willian was rated for lands in West Allen Grieveship at £8 a year.

William Keenlyside of Keenlyside Hill, on the 14th October 1701 surrendered Keenlyside Low Hall, the High Shield and the Pingle to the use of himself for life and then to the use of his daughter Mary. Her great-grandson, John Clark of Allendale Town, gentleman, in 1830 sold his share of the land to Mr Ord of Whitfield.

A History of Northumberland Volume 4 Hexhamshire Part 2 (Hexham, Whiteley Chapel, Allendale and St John Lee) by John Crawford Hodgson: Andrew Reid & Co Ltd 1897