| ![Show Contents]() Kernahan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland The original Gaelic form of the name Kernahan is Ó Cearnachain, which is derived from the word "cearnach," which means "victorious." 1 Early Origins of the Kernahan familyThe surname Kernahan was first found in County Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel, where they held a family seat from ancient times. Early History of the Kernahan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kernahan research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1172 is included under the topic Early Kernahan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kernahan Spelling VariationsNames written in official documents were generally spelt as they sounded, leading to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion in records of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Kernahan that are preserved in documents of the family history are Kernahan, Kernaghan, Carnahan, Carnaghan and others. Early Notables of the Kernahan familyMore information is included under the topic Early Kernahan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Kernahan migration to the United States | + |
Irish families began to immigrate to British North America and the United States in the 18th century, but the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. The earlier settlers came to North America after a great deal of consideration and by paying relatively high fees for their passage. These settlers were primarily drawn by the promise of land. Those later settlers that came during the 1840's were trying to escape the conditions of poverty, starvation, disease, and death that had stricken Ireland. Due to the enormity of their numbers and the late date of their arrival, these immigrants primarily became hired laborers instead of homesteading settlers like their predecessors. An exhaustive search of immigration and passenger lists has revealed many Irish immigrants North America bearing the name Kernahan:
Kernahan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Thomas Kernahan, who settled in Philadelphia in 1850
| Kernahan 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: Kernahan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Jason Kernahan, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Telegraph" in 1863
- Robert G. Kernahan, aged 17, a farm labourer, who arrived in Taranaki aboard the ship "Hermione" in 1878
| Contemporary Notables of the name Kernahan (post 1700) | + |
- Kent Kernahan, American electrical engineer and inventor, known for his work with Fyrestorm, Inc; he holds over 40 patents
- Carol Kernahan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2004 2
- Ross Kernahan, English actor, known for Beautiful Devils (2017), The Loft and Good Omens (2018)
- Coulson Kernahan (1858-1943), English novelist from Ilfracombe, Devon, copy-editor of Oscar Wilde's 1891 version of The Picture of Dorian Gray
- David Kernahan (b. 1965), former Australian rules footballer, who played with Carlton Football Club (1988-1993), younger brother of Stephen Kernahan
- Stephen Scott Kernahan (b. 1963), nicknamed "Sticks", former Australian rules football player and administrator, an All-Australian five times, president of the Carlton Football Club for 6 years
- William Kernahan Thomas (1911-2001), United States federal jurist, Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (1966–1981)
- MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Kernahan migration to the United States 
Kernahan migration to New Zealand 
