The surname Kendall, Kendl, or Kendal (also spelt Kendell, Kendoll, Kendel, Kendle, Kindell, Kindel, or Kindle) has two widely accepted origins.
The first is from the market town of Kendal in Cumbria.
The earliest recorded form of this town's name is in 1095 as Kircabikendala, literally "Church by Kent dale".
The second is as an anglicization of Middle Welsh Kyndelw (modern Welsh Cynddelw), a given name, as in Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr (Kyndelw Brydyt Maur).
Traditionally a surname, it means "the Kent river valley."