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Irish surname

Kearns: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Céirín (same surname as Ó Ciaráin); Woulfe also gives Kearns, in brackets, under Ó Ceithearnaigh · Ó Céirín, 'descendant of Céirín' (diminutive of ciar, black); Ó Ciaráin, 'descendant of Ciarán' (diminutive of ciar, black)

Woulfe (1923) lists Kearns as an anglicised form of Ó Céirín and of Ó Ciaráin, which he calls the same surname, 'descendant of Céirín/Ciarán', from ciar, black. One Ó Céirín family were anciently lords of Ciarraighe Locha na n-airne in Co. Mayo. In 1890, Ireland's birth indexes held 87 entries for Kearns and its spelling varieties (71 spelled Kearns), chiefly in Dublin and Mayo.

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Coat of arms associated with the Kearns surname
Irish formÓ Céirín (same surname as Ó Ciaráin); Woulfe also gives Kearns, in brackets, under Ó Ceithearnaigh
MeaningÓ Céirín, 'descendant of Céirín' (diminutive of ciar, black); Ó Ciaráin, 'descendant of Ciarán' (diminutive of ciar, black)
CountiesMayo, Dublin, Donegal, Cork
Other spellings4

Origin of the Kearns name

Woulfe: Ó Céirín was the name of a family anciently lords of Ciarraighe Locha na n-airne, in the barony of Costello, Co. Mayo, 'and doubtless of several other families'. Ó Ciaráin, the same surname, was (1) a Tirconnell family, lords of Fearmhaigh in Co. Donegal, and (2) a Cork family seated in Imokilly.[1][2]

  1. 16th centuryÓ Céirín was 'very widespread', Woulfe says.[1]
  2. 1794Composer William Henry Kearns born in Dublin.[5]
  3. 1846William Henry Kearns dies at Kennington, 28 December.[5]
  4. 189087 birth entries incl. varieties (71 as Kearns), chiefly Dublin and Mayo.[4]

Where in Ireland

Co. MayoÓ Céirín were lords in the barony of Costello; a principal Kearns county in 1890.[1][4]
Co. DublinFirst county named for Kearns births in 1890.[4]
Co. DonegalÓ Ciaráin of Tirconnell were lords of Fearmhaigh.[2]
Co. CorkAn Ó Ciaráin family was originally seated in the barony of Imokilly.[2]
Co. RoscommonÓ Ceithearnaigh, under which Woulfe lists Kearns in brackets, were chiefs of Ciarraighe, barony of Castlerea.[3]

Notable people named Kearns

William Henry Kearns1794–1846Dublin-born composer and esteemed teacher of singing; for thirty years in the orchestras of Her Majesty's and Covent Garden theatres.[5]

Other spellings

Kearn · Kerns · Kerins · Kearin[1][2]

The Kearns coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Kearns surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Kearns crest gifts

Clan Kearns Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapMS19 Classic Cap - Kearns Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Kearns Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Kearns Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap IR36 Kearns Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Kearns Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Kearns surname: questions

What does the surname Kearns mean?

Woulfe gives Kearns as a form of Ó Céirín, 'descendant of Céirín', and Ó Ciaráin, 'descendant of Ciarán'; both are diminutives of ciar, black.[1][2]

Is Kearns an Irish name?

Woulfe lists Kearns among the anglicised forms of the Irish surnames Ó Céirín and Ó Ciaráin, and in brackets under Ó Ceithearnaigh.[1][2][3]

Where in Ireland is Kearns from?

Woulfe says one Ó Céirín family were lords in the barony of Costello, Co. Mayo, and that the name is now represented in every province. In 1890 Kearns births were found chiefly in Dublin and Mayo.[1][4]

Is Kearns the same as Kearney?

Woulfe's main Irish names for Kearns, Ó Céirín and Ó Ciaráin, do not include Kearney. But he lists Kearney, Kerns and Kearns together, in brackets, under a third name, Ó Ceithearnaigh, and says its anglicised forms 'cannot always be distinguished' from those of Ó Cearnaigh.[3]

Sources

  1. Ó Céirín — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-ceirin.php
  2. Ó Ciaráin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-ciarain.php
  3. Ó Ceithearnaigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-ceithearnaigh.php
  4. Kearns — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/kearns.php
  5. Kearns, William Henry — Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900, transcribed, Wikisource. en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/...

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).