Kerr History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland
England

Etymology of Kerr

What does the name Kerr mean?

The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Scotland were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. Scottish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. The surname Kerr is derived from the Gaelic name O'Ciarain or O'Ceirin, which itself comes from the Gaelic word ciar, which means black or dark brown. 1

Another source explains a different understanding of the origin of the name: "The frequency with which such entries as Robert or William del Carr, or atte Carr, or Karr, or Kerr recur in Lancashire and Yorkshire records of the 13th and 14th centuries is explained by the fact that Carr or Kerr meant a low-lying meadow." 2

And another source notes: "the Cars or Kers are undoubtedly a very ancient people in this island, but it is uncertain whether they be of French or English extraction. Those who contend for the former, allege that the Baron Ker and other families of his name now existing in France, trace their origin higher than the time of William, Duke of Normandy, who, being attended by a considerable commander of their name in 1066, rewarded him for his bravery and conduct with divers possessions in the north of England." 3

Early Origins of the Kerr family

The surname Kerr was first found in Lancashire (located in northwest England and dates back to 1180), where one of the earliest records of a progenitor of the Clan was a John Ker, hunter, resident of Soonhope in 1190 AD. He is believed to have received a grant of land from the Crown and settled in the Border country of Scotland soon after the Norman invasion moved northwards. 4

Within a century, two main branches evolved from two brothers, Ralph and John who lived near Jedburgh in c. 1330. They were both listed in the Roll of Battle Abbey as having descended from the Norman Karre. 5 The Kerrs of Cessford were descended from Ralph, and the Kerrs of Ferniehurst were descended from John.

Now we draw the reader's attention to a slightly different origin with a different timeline but similar. "Two brothers, of Anglo-Norman descent., who bore this name [Karre] are said to have settled in Scotland during the 13th century. No one known which was the elder of the two, for 'neither house would yield the superiority to the other, forming two distinct races of war-like Border chieftains.' The Kerrs of Fernihirst are represented by the Marquesses of Lothian, the Kers of Cessord by the Dukes of Roxburghe." 6

We believe that the reference to the 13th century is a typo, as it should have read 14th century (the 1300's) not the 1200's.

Early History of the Kerr family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kerr research. Another 172 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1130, 1205, 1264, 1296, 1350, 1553, 1570, 1578, 1600, 1605, 1606, 1609, 1615, 1616, 1624, 1650, 1654, 1675, 1680, 1684, 1690, 1741, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kerr History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kerr Spelling Variations

The frequent translations of surnames from and into Gaelic, accounts for the multitude of spelling variations found in Scottish surnames. Furthermore, the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent because medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules. The different versions of a surname, such as the inclusion of the patronymic prefix "Mac", frequently indicated a religious or Clan affiliation, or even a division of the family. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into Scotland, accelerating accentuating the alterations to various surnames. The name Kerr has also been spelled Kerr, Car, Carr, Ker, Cearr (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the Kerr family

Notable among the family at this time was

Mark Kerr (1553-1609), of Ferniehurst, who was made 1st Earl of Lothian in 1606
Robert Kerr (or Carr), 1st Earl of Ancram (c. 1578-1654), a Scottish nobleman and writer
William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian (1605?-1675), a Scottish nobleman
Charles Kerr, 2nd Earl of Ancram (1624-1690), a Scottish peer

Kerr World Ranking

In the United States, the name Kerr is the 721^st most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 7 However, in Canada, the name Kerr is ranked the 249^th most popular surname with an estimated 16,291 people with that name. 8 And in Australia, the name Kerr is the 166^th popular surname with an estimated 18,721 people with that name. 9 New Zealand ranks Kerr as 111^st with 3,896 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Kerr as 188^th with 29,848 people. 11

Migration of the Kerr family to Ireland

Some of the Kerr family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 155 words (11 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kerr migration to the United States +

Some of the first North American settlers with Kerr name or one of its variants:

Kerr Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Kerr, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1728 12
Christian Kerr, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733 12
Friederich Kerr, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1742 12
Barnard Kerr, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 12
Samuel Kerr, who landed in South Carolina in 1772 12

Kerr Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Kerr, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1802 12
Hannah Kerr, aged 25, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 12
Josiah Kerr, aged 28, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 12
Mark Kerr, who landed in America in 1805 12
Christopher Kerr, who arrived in America in 1805 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kerr Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Allan Napier Kerr, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1908 12

Kerr migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kerr Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Kerr of St. John's, Newfoundland in the late 1700's 13
Dr. Kerr Robert U.E. (b. 1755) born in Scotland, United Kingdom from New York, USA who arrived in Quebec c. 1779, moving are required before settling in Fredericksburgh, Cataraqui township by 1789 he served in the 2nd Battalion of the Kings Royal Rangers of New York before being captured in 1777, escaping in 1779 he was a Assistant Surgeon, he married Elizabeth Brant Johnson in 1783 having 5 children, he died in 1824 14
Capt. Kerr James U.E. (b. 1754) who settled in Parr Town [Saint John], New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the Queens Rangers, died in 1830 in Amherst, Nova Scotia 14
Mr. Kerr James U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 14

Kerr Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Campbell Kerr, aged 22, a saddler, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
John Kerr, who arrived in Canada in 1815
John Kerr, aged 27, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "William" from Cork, Ireland
Bess Kerr, aged 13, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland
Peggy Kerr, aged 19, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kerr migration to Australia +

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

Kerr Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Warren Kerr, (b. 1782), aged 34, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. James Kerr, (b. 1770), aged 50, Irish labourer who was convicted in Antrim, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1835 16
Henry Kerr, Scottish convict from Edinburgh, who was transported aboard the "Agamemnon" on April 22, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 17
Mr. William Kerr, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "England"on 28th April 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
Mr. Duncan Kerr, (Keir), Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 29th April 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kerr migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Kerr Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Alexander Kerr, aged 14, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Fifeshire" in 1842 20
John Kerr, aged 41, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Fifeshire" in 1842 20
Janet Kerr, aged 42, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Fifeshire" in 1842 20
James Kerr, aged 20, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Fifeshire" in 1842 20
David Kerr, aged 18, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Fifeshire" in 1842 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kerr migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 21

Kerr Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

David Kerr, who arrived in Jamaica in 1775

Contemporary Notables of the name Kerr (post 1700) +

Floyd Kerr (1946-2023), American collegiate and professional basketball player and athletic administrator from Oxford, Mississippi
Anita Kerr (1927-2022), stage name of Anita Jean Grilli, an American singer, arranger, composer, conductor, pianist, and music producer
John Michael Kerr (1950-2016), American author, best known for his non fiction book A Most Dangerous Method
Brigadier-General Francis Rusher Kerr (1890-1975), American Assistant Administrator of Veteran Affairs (1946) 22
Malcolm Kerr (1931-1984), American academic
Cristie Kerr (b. 1977), American LPGA professional golfer
Walter Francis Kerr (1913-1996), American writer and Broadway theater critic awarded the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism
Deborah Kerr CBE (1921-2007), Scottish-born, American movie actress perhaps best known for her role opposite Yul Brynner in "The King and I" for which she received a Golden Globe Award
Donald Maclean Kerr Jr. (b. 1939), American physicist, director of Los Alamos National Laboratory from 1979-1985, and director of FBI Laboratory from 1997
James "Jim" Kerr (b. 1959), Scottish musician and singer-songwriter, member of the Scottish rock band Simple Minds, perhaps best known for their 1985 hit "Don't You (Forget About Me)"
... (Another 22 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Kerr family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mr. Geoffrey Ian Hamilton Kerr (1958-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Wanganui, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 23
Mr. Francis Ronald Kerr (1930-1979), New Zealander passenger, from New Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 23
Mrs. Betty Kerr (d. 1979), New Zealander passenger, from New Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 23

Bradford City stadium fire

Walter Kerr (1909-1985), from Bradford who attended the Bradford City and Lincoln City Third Division match on 11th May 1985 when the Bradford City stadium fire occurred and he died in the fire

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Peter Kerr (1875-1914), Scottish Third Class Passenger from Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 24
Miss Sarah Kerr (1901-1914), Scottish Third Class Passenger from Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 24
Mrs. Mary Currie Kerr (1875-1914), née Russell Scottish Third Class Passenger from Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 24
Master George Kerr (1906-1914), Scottish Third Class Passenger from Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 24
Miss Maggie Kerr (1902-1914), Scottish Third Class Passenger from Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 24
... (Another 2 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Dorsetshire

George Kerr (d. 1945), British Ordinary Seaman aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 25

HMS Hood

Mr. Raymond W Kerr (b. 1923), English Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Wallsend, Northumberland, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 26
Mr. Alexander Kerr (b. 1919), English Engine Room Artificer 5th Class serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 26

HMS Repulse

Mr. David Kerr, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 27
Mr. Hugh Kerr, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 27
Mr. Robert G Kerr, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 27

HMS Royal Oak

Richard J. Kerr, British Petty Officer with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 28

North Sea Flood

James Kerr, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" who survived the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
Wesley Kerr, British worker aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

RMS Titanic

Mr. Thomas Russell Kerr (d. 1912), aged 26, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 29

St. Francis Dam

Mr. Earl Dean Kerr, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

The Kerr Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sero sed serio
Motto Translation: Late but in earnest.

Citations +

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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Agamemnon voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1820 with 179 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 4th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Francis Kerr. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Kerr/Francis_Rusher/USA.html
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html