Show ContentsNairne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Scottish surname Nairne is of local origin, derived from the Burgh of Nairn in Northern Scotland. The original bearers of this name likely lived, held land, or came from Nairn.

Early Origins of the Nairne family

The surname Nairne was first found in Nairnshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Narann) in northern Scotland, today part of the Council Area of Highland, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Nairne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nairne research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1414, 1457 and 1715 are included under the topic Early Nairne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nairne Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Nairn, Nairne and others.

Early Notables of the Nairne family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

  • Thomas Nairne (d. 1715), Scottish trader, the first Indian agent of the Province of Carolina


United States Nairne migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nairne Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Nairne, who landed in America in 1698 [1]
Nairne Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Nairne, aged 19, who arrived in New York, NY in 1774 [1]

Australia Nairne migration to Australia +

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

Nairne Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

New Zealand Nairne 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:

Nairne Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Charles James Nairne, aged 18, a gardener, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Mr. Nairne, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "George Canning" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1857 [2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Nairne (post 1700) +

  • Alfred B. Nairne, American politician, Member of Maryland State House of Delegates from Worcester County, 1865-66
  • Carolina Nairne (1766-1845), Scottish songwriter and song collector as well as a Baroness
  • Mr. Andrew Colin Nairne O.B.E. (b. 1960), born in Guildford, Surrey, England, English Director for Kettle’s Yard at the University of Cambridge, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to Museums and to the Arts [3]
  • Sir Patrick Nairne GCB, MC (1921-2013), British civil servant, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Security
  • Andrew Nairne, English Executive Director for Arts Strategy at Arts Council England
  • Edward Nairne (1726-1806), English optician and scientific instrument maker
  • John Nairne (1731-1802), Lieutenant-Colonel, Scottish-Canadian soldier and seigneur
  • Alexander "Sandy" Nairne (b. 1950), British arts administrator and writer, Director of the National Portrait Gallery (2003-)
  • Sir Nairne Stewart Sandeman (d. 1940), 1st Baronet, a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom


The Nairne 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.


  1. 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)
  2. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  3. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists


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