Kern History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Kern family in North America:

Kern Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Francis Kern his wife and two daughters, were among the Palatines, who left Germany for England in 1709
• Francis Kern, who sailed to America with his wife and two daughters at the age of 30 in 1709
• Michael Kern, who settled in Philadelphia in 1727 aboard the ship "Adventurer John Davies"
• Abraham Kern, who took an oath of allegiance in Pennsylvania in 1731
• Abraham Kern, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 4
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kern Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Charlotte Kern, aged 10, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1832 4
• Catharine Kern, aged 10, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1832 4
• Eugene Kern, aged 6, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1832 4
• Michael Kern, aged 30, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1832 4
• Soloman Kern, aged 2, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1832 4
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kern Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Julius Kern, who landed in Arkansas in 1903 4

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kern Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Mr. Kern Mattice U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 5

Kern Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Christopher Kern, who arrived in Canada in 1839

• Joey Kern (b. 1976), American actor, known for his roles in Super Troopers (2001), Cabin Fever (2002) and Lucky You (2007)
• Jerome Kern (1885-1945), American composer whose most famous work was "Showboat" and most famous song "When Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"
• Jerome David Kern (1885-1945), American three-time Academy Award winning composer, best known for his musical scores for the Broadway stage of which Showboat (1927) was the most famous as it included Old Man River, Only Make-believe, Bill and Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man and more
• Clyde E. Kern, American politician, Candidate for Michigan state board of agriculture, 1909 6
• Clement J. Kern (1848-1911), American politician, Member of Indiana State House of Representatives, 1891 6
• Charles W. Kern, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1948 6
• Brian S. Kern, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maryland, 2008 6
• Bob Kern, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Indiana 6th District, 1998 6
• Araminta Cooper Kern (1866-1951), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1928 6
• Alvin J. Kern, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Lehigh County, 1895-98 6
• ... (Another 40 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• The Kearns Family by David L. Greene.