Kerin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish families left their homeland in astonishing numbers during the 19th century in search of a better life. Although individual reasons vary, most of these Irish families suffered from extreme poverty, lack of work opportunities, and exorbitant rents in their homeland. Many decided to travel to Australia or North America in the hopes of finding greater opportunities and land. The Irish immigrants that came to North America initially settled on the East Coast, often in major centers such as Boston or New York. But like the many other cultures to settle in North America, the Irish traveled to almost any region they felt held greater promise; as a result, many Irish with gold fever moved all the way out to the Pacific coast. Others before that time left for land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula, or the Maritimes as United Empire Loyalists, for many Irish did choose to side with the English during the American War of Independence. The earliest wave of Irish migration, however, occurred during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Kerin name:

Kerin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• John Kerin, who landed in New York in 1854 2

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kerin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Mr. John Kerin, aged 50 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Mary" departing 24th May 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 27th July 1847 but he died on board 3

Kerin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Honora Kerin, (b. 1806), aged 22, Irish servant who was convicted in County Clare, Ireland for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "City of Edinburgh II" on 23rd June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
• Judy Kerin, aged 18, a dairy maid, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sibella" 5
• Mary Kerin, aged 25, a dairy maid, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Surge" 6
• Mary Kerin, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Phoebe Dunbar" 7
• Judy Kerin, aged 21, a dairy maid, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Epaminondas" 8
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kerin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• John Kerin, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 9
• Mr. John Kerin, British settler travelling from London, UK with 1 child aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 9
• John Kerin, aged 21, a farm labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1876 10

• John Patrick Kerin (1875-1946), American professional baseball umpire
• Charles M. Kerin (1915-1988), American illustrator and painter
• John Nelson Kerin (1858-1919), American Major League Baseball player
• Karen Ann Kerin, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Vermont at-large, 2000 11
• John Kerin (1962-2001), Irish sportsperson
• Alan Kerin (b. 1977), Irish sportsperson
• Charlie Kerin (1918-1944), prominent Irish Republican
• John Charles Kerin AO FTSE (1937-2023), Australian economist and Labor Party politician, Member of the House of Representatives from 1972 to 1975 and from 1978 to 1993, Treasurer of Australia, Minister for Primary Industries and Energy
• John F. Kerin (d. 2006), Australian physician, Professor of reproductive medicine, and was a recognized innovator in biomedical technology
• Robert Gerard Kerin (b. 1954), Liberal Premier of South Australia