Kents

Kents is a term that can refer to several related, but distinct, uses of the word Kent. In common usage, it can denote people connected with the word Kent through geography or surname, and it can also appear in fiction as the name of a family.

Geographic and demographic usage

Kent is a historic and ceremonial county in southeast England. The adjective Kentish is commonly used to describe things associated with Kent, including its residents. The plural form Kents is not typically used as a demonym in modern writing, but it may appear in historical texts or in compound names referring to multiple individuals from Kent.

Surname usage

Kent is a well-established English surname. Kents, the plural form, would refer to multiple people who bear the surname Kent. The name has origins in medieval England and has since spread widely, occurring in various cultures and regions.

Fiction and popular culture

In fiction, Kents most commonly refers to the Kent family in Superman narratives. Jonathan Kent and Martha Kent are the adoptive parents of Clark Kent, the superhero known as Superman. Collectively, they are often described as “the Kents,” and they are depicted as a farming family offering moral support and stability to Clark.

Other uses

Beyond people and fiction, Kent appears in multiple place names and institutional titles around the world. When discussing such uses, it is important to distinguish between Kent as a place, Kent as a surname, and the plural Kents as a reference to people who bear that surname.

See also: Kent, Kentish.