| ![Show Contents]() Kerans History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
Etymology of KeransWhat does the name Kerans mean? The surname Kerans was first used in the Scottish/English Borderlands by an ancient Scottish people called the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name for someone who lived in Midlothian. The name Kerans is also derived from the Gaelic word carn, which means pile of stones, and referred to the stone burial chambers we now call cairns. 1 Early Origins of the Kerans familyThe surname Kerans was first found in Midlothian, in the lands of Cairns in the parish of Mid-Calder. "The first of the name recorded is William de Carnys, who appears as a charter witness in 1349. Though this is the earliest mention of the name in record there must have been many of the surname living at an earlier date, as in the latter half of the fourteenth century many individuals of the name are mentioned in documents referring to the adjoining counties of Midlothian and West Lothian. In 1363 William de Carnys and his son, Duncan de Carnys, had a charter of the baronies of Esterquytburne and Westirquitburne from David II. Two years later David de Carnys appears as a bailie of Edinburgh." 2 Early History of the Kerans familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kerans research. Another 271 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1372, 1386, 1395, 1401, 1406, 1408, 1418, 1430, 1431, 1452, 1454, 1455, 1503, 1572, 1639, 1665, 1669, 1673, 1703, 1707, 1732, 1743 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kerans History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kerans Spelling VariationsThe many spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years Kerans has been spelled Cairns, Cairn, Kairnes, Carnys and others. Early Notables of the Kerans familyMore information is included under the topic Early Kerans Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Kerans family to IrelandSome of the Kerans family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 127 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Kerans familyTo escape the uncertainties and discrimination faced in Scotland, many decided to head out for North America. Once they arrived, many Scots fought with relish in the American War of Independence; some went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Many ancestors of these Scots have recovered their lost national heritage in the 20th century through Clan organizations and Scottish historical societies. Among the settlers to North America were: John Cairns settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1775; Michael Cairns followed in 1799; Andrew in 1830; John in 1840; Robert in 1864.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Kerans (post 1700) | + |
- Sally P. Kerans (1960-1991), American politician, Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1991-1997)
- Sally P. Kerans, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1996 3
- Robert F. Kerans, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 19th District, 1988, 1990 3
- Commander John Simon Kerans MP DSO RN (1915-1985), Irish officer in the Royal Navy, politician and author, Member of Parliament for The Hartlepools (1959–1964)
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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