How to pronounce Kuykendall?

Ker-ken-dahl

Ker-ken-dall

KIRK ken Dahl

last name

Dutch

Male, Female

numerous phonetic spellings

Curve in the Valley

A) Pronunciation:

What was the original pronunciation of the name "Kuykendall" or, perhaps, "van Kuykendaal?"

Some say it was pronounced, "Kirk-en-dahl." Others insist this was a newer pronunciation than an earlier, approximately "Ki-ken-dahl" (long "i").

If the pronunciation "Kirk-en-dahl" is more recent, then it was in use as early as the time of the French-Indian war of the mid to late 1750's.

George Washington's letters as Colonel in the colonial British army refer once to the spelling "Kuykendall" and in six letters to the "Kirkendalls."

Colonel Washington gives instructions as to what ought to be done at "Kirkendalls" in letters addressed to officers:

1. "Captain James Hamilton of the Fairfax Militia" ordering him to take a "post at Kirkendalls" at "the South Branch," dated May 17th, 1756, from Winchester

2. "Captain Nicholas Minor of the Fairfax Militia" whom Captain Hamilton was to relieve is ordered by Colonel Washington: "I would have your remain at Kirkendalls with your party until Colonel Peytons return to the Branch," also dated May 17th, 1756, from Winchester

3. "Captain Robert McKenzie of the Virginia Regiment": "When you remove over to Pearsalls you must send a Subaltern and fifteen men over to Kirkendalls Fort," July 13th, 1756, from Fort Cumberland

4. "Lieutenant Colonel Adam Stephen, at Fort Cumberland": "I am sorry to hear you even mention recalling Capt. McKenzie from his post. It must have been an extraordinary occasion that would have reconciled me to that proceeding, which would have left Cox's, Pearsalls, and Kirkendalls forts quite defenceless . . . I have, in order to strengthen the several garrisons that maintain the communications with Fort Cumberland, ordered Captain Bell to march to Cox's, and there remain with twenty men, while the rest of his company is equally divided, one part to strengthen Ashby's, the other to protect the inhabitants at Kirkendalls," August 5th, 1756, Winchester

5. "Captain Thomas Waggoner on the South-Branch": "You must therefore, notwithstanding all the orders which have heretofore been given, immediately despatch Captain Bell, with his whole company to Captain Cox's fort; where he is to remain himself with twenty men, taking command of said fort, and escorting all Expresses, wagons, &c, to and from Fort Cumberland, as far as Ashby's and Pearsalls. The rest of his men he is to divide into two equal parts; one of which, with his Ensign, is to march to, and be stationed at Kirkendalls, for the protection of the people there," August 5th, 1756, Winchester

6. "Captain Robert McKenzie -- at Cox's Fort": "The remainder of Captain Bells' men are to be divided into two parties, one of which is to strengthen the garrison at Ashby's, for the aforesaid purposes, while the other with his Ensign, remains at Kirkendalls, for the protection of that Settlement," August 5th, 1756, Winchester.

The seventh is a letter from Colonel George Washington at Winchester, dated August 13, 1756, addressed "To the commanding officer at Kuykendalls Fort."

Washington's letter to Waggoner (above) refers to "Kirkendalls fort."

Presumably, "Kuykendalls Fort" and "Kirkendalls fort" is the same, stone, Indian fort which still stands at one of the old Kuykendall farm sites on the South Branch of the Potomac not far from Romney, West Virginia.

It seems likely that in the first six letters, Washington spelled the name "Kuykendall" as it sounded when pronounced: "Kirkendall." Later, upon becoming aware of how the family concerned spelled their name, spelled it correctly as "Kuykendall." 

B) Meaning:

"Baptismal Records of the Original Dutch Colony show that Luur Jacobsen added the surname van Kuykendall to his Family name about 1705. It is obvious that the Kuykendall Family's common ancestor Luur Jacobson chose his surname from Land van Kuyk which is clearly identified in the upper right area of this 1705 map of Southern Holland and Northern Belgium. The area is in the Maas River Vslley - thus - EN-DALL - (in the valley) Kuyk is a pre Roman German word meaning "curve". Thus the name litterally means "Curve in the Valley".