Show ContentsKerrick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

It was in the Scottish/English Borderlands, in lands inhabited by the Strathclyde Britons that the Kerrick surname was first found. The name is thought to be a habitational name, taken on from the place named Carrick in Ayrshire. This place name comes from the Gaelic "carraig," meaning "rock."

Early Origins of the Kerrick family

The surname Kerrick was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, and were known as 'the men of Carrick'.

Duncan de Carrick (died 1250) was made the Mormaer (Earl) of Carrick by Scottish King Alexander I in 1186. He was a direct ancestor Robert the Bruce (Robert I), King of the Scots 1274-1329. Mestre Duncan de Carrike of county of Berewyke rendered homage to King Edward I of England in 1296. 1

Early History of the Kerrick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kerrick research. Another 252 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1224, 1296, 1320, 1360, 1370, 1371, 1372, 1380, 1429, 1554, 1606, 1665, 1716, 1717, 1779 and 1820 are included under the topic Early Kerrick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kerrick Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Carrick, Carick, Carich, Carrich, Karryck, Karrik, Karrick, Kerrich, Kerrick, Carrig, Carrigy, McCarrigy and many more.

Early Notables of the Kerrick family

Notable amongst the family at this time was John de Carrick (died c. 1380), a native of Carrick, Scotland, Chancellor of Scotland and Bishop-elect of Dunkeld (1370-1371.) David Garrick (1717-1779)...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kerrick Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kerrick Ranking

In the United States, the name Kerrick is the 18,159th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Ireland Migration of the Kerrick family to Ireland

Some of the Kerrick family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


New Zealand Kerrick 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:

Kerrick Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Jonathan M Kerrick, (b. 1858), aged 20, Cornish farm labourer departing on 29th August 1878 aboard the ship "Waitara" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 3rd December 1878 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Kerrick (post 1700) +

  • W. O. Kerrick, American politician, Mayor of Santa Cruz, California, 1925-27 4
  • Thomas C. Kerrick, American politician, Delegate to Illinois State Constitutional Convention 26th District, 1920-22 4
  • J. W. Kerrick, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 16th District, 1883-85 4


The Kerrick 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: Garde bien
Motto Translation: Watch well.


  1. 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)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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