Unexplained.There was a family of this name in Roussillon, France, descended from a partisan of James II named Kennedy, who was exiled in France in the 17th century. The family died out in France in 1868, but may have had an American branch.
Other Forms FormsGandy, Gandey, Gameday, Candey, Ganty, Canty
Meaning & History
perhaps from Middle English candi "crystallized cane sugar" (via French from Persian qand "sugar") and used as a metonymic occupational name for a sugar merchant. Alternatively it may be a nickname from the Early modern English name for cretecandiecandy (derived via French from Venetian candia) with a reference to its sweet wine.
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