Kerr Family Crest and Name History

Text Size

Kerr PDF Surname History


The Ancient History Of The Distinguished Surname Kerr

Kerr

Contents

Kerr history with Kerr Family Crest
Suggested Readings for Kerr
Surname Notables

About Family Crests

Kerr Products

Origins Available: Irish, Scottish

Where did the Irish Kerr family come from? What is the Irish coat of arms/family crest? When did the Kerr family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

The well known Kerr surname has long existed in Ireland, and originates from several distinct sources. In County Galway it was an Anglicization of O Carra, a patronymic name referring to a descendant of Carra; the word Carra in turn meant "spear." in County Donegal, Kerr was the Anglicized form of Mac Giolla Chathair. Many who bear the Kerr name in Ireland are descendents of emigrants of Scottish or English stock, who brought the name with them. In Ireland, many bearers changed their name over time from Kerrane or Kerr to Carr. In turn the name Carr in Ireland has in some instance morphed into Carey.

Spelling variations of this family name include: Carr, Kerr, O'Carr, O'Carry, MacCarry, Kerrane and many more.

First found in Connacht, where in 1095, the annals of Loch Cé list the death of Muirchertach Ua Cairre, "steward of Cenél Aengusa and royal heir of Oilech.".

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Bradbury Carr, a Scotch-Irish settler, who came to New Hampshire in 1732; Andrew Carr, who arrived in New Castle, Delaware in 1789; Dennis Carr, who arrived in New York in 1803.

For more information on the last name Kerr, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.

Suggested Readings for the name Kerr

Christian Frederick Kerr by Elaine Ford Eaton.
Heasley, Kerr, Smith, Cook by Alice Heasley Dwight.

Some noteworthy people of the name Kerr

Donald Maclean Kerr Jr. (b. 1939), American physicist, director of Los Alamos National Laboratory from 1979-1985, and director of FBI Laboratory from 1997
Deborah Kerr (1921-2007), CBE, American (Scottish-born) movie actress Actress perhaps best known for her role opposite Yul Brynner in "The King and I"
Walter Francis Kerr (1913-1996), American writer and Broadway theater critic awarded the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism
Roy Patrick Kerr (b. 1934), New Zealand mathematician and physicist
Sir John Robert Kerr (1914-1991), Australian politician, governor-general of Australia from 1974-1977
Philip Henry Kerr (1882-1940), (11th Marquess of Lothian) British administrator, diplomat, and newspaper editor, British ambassador to the USA from 1939-1940
Tim Kerr (b. 1960), Canadian, a retired professional hockey player, played in the NHL between 1980-1993
Lieutenant George Fraser Kerr (1895-1929), Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross during the First World War
Private John Chipman Kerr (1887-1963), Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross during the First World War

Tell Me More About Family Crests

Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist

We have researched the Kerr family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

More

Family Crests: Timeline

Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

More

Family Crests: Elements

In the Kerr coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

More

Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate

We encourage you to study the Kerr genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

More

Kerr Family Crest Products

Anniversary

Anniversary products for the name Kerr.

Apparel

Apparel with the coat of arms for the name Kerr.

Armorial histories

Armorial histories for the name Kerr.

Ceramics

Ceramics showing the Kerr family crest.

Clip art

Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.

Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms for the name Kerr.

Downloads

Downloads emphasing the Kerr family crest.

Family Crest

Family Crest for the name Kerr.

Family Tree

Family Tree proudly displaying the Kerr coat of arms.

Hand Painted Plaques

Hand Painted Plaques for the Kerr family crest.

Keychains

Keychains with a Kerr family crest.

Mouse pads

Mouse pads featuring the family crest for the surname Kerr.

New Products

New Products displaying the family crest for the name Kerr.

Packages

Packages for the Kerr family crest.

Plaques and Frames

Plaques and Frames with the coat of arms for the name Kerr.

Surname Histories

Surname Histories for the name Kerr.

Symbolism

Symbolism displaying the family crest for the name Kerr.

Travel Mugs

Travel Mugs for the Kerr family crest.

Popular Products
	Armorial History With Coat of Arms
	Coat of Arms & Surname History Package
	Family Crest Image (jpg) Heritage Series - 300 DPI
	Key-chain
	Coffee Mug
	Armorial History with Frame
	Framed Surname History and Coat of Arms

The Kerr Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Kerr Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.