oh Bill, I'm shocked :)

Here's a representative quote from a quick googlehaul:

"A Man of Kent by birth., which means I was born east of the River Medway as opposed to a Kentish Man who comes from the west of the river. Legend says, the Men of Kent resisted William the Conqueror more stoutly than the Kentish Men, who weakly surrendered. Afterwards the bravery of the Men of Kent made them proud while Kentish Men were believed to be weak-minded, and so a keen rivalry developed...."

http://dmoz.org/profiles/ddrj.html