Show ContentsKerne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Kerne

What does the name Kerne mean?

Bavaria, Germany is the ancestral home of the Kerne family. The Germans began using hereditary surnames in the 12th century. Kerne is an occupational name, which was derived from the kind of work done by the original bearer. It is a name for a person employed as a "carter" or "carrier," from the German word "kerenere" which means "carrier."

Early Origins of the Kerne family

The surname Kerne was first found in Bavaria, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early History of the Kerne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kerne research. Another 279 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1318, 1664, 1730, 1745, 1756, 1768, 1786, 1791, 1800, 1801, 1812, 1813, 1831, 1845, 1857 and 1862 are included under the topic Early Kerne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kerne Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Kerne include Kern, Kerner, Kerne, Koerner, Cern, Cerner and others.

Early Notables of the Kerne family

Prominent among members of the name Kerne in this period include

  • Justis Andreas Christian Kerner (1786-1862), who was a German poet and medical writer born in Ludwigsburg, Wuerttemberg...


Kerne migration to the United States +

Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Kerne or a variant listed above:

Kerne Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jon Kerne, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 1
Kerne Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • David Kerne, who landed in Virginia in 1706 1
  • Abraham Kerne, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1731
  • Hans Jacob Kerne, aged 20, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1739 1
  • Johan Henrich Kerne, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1766 1
Kerne Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Kerne, aged 32, who landed in Mobile County, Ala in 1841 1

Kerne migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Kerne Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Kerne, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Constance" in 1848 2


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONSTANCE - 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Constance.htm


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