Clan Kerr

Clan Kerr ⁱ/kɛr/ is a Scottish clan whose origins lie in the Scottish Borders. During the Middle Ages it was one of the prominent border reiver clans along the present-day Anglo-Scottish border and played an important role in the history of the Border country of Scotland.

History

Origins of the clan

The name Kerr is rendered in various forms such as Kerr, Ker, Carr and Carre. The name stems from the Old Norse kjrr which means marsh dweller, and came to Scotland from Normandy, the French settlement of the Norsemen. Another variant is found on the west coast of Scotland, particularly on the Isle of Arran, taken from the Gaelic ciar, meaning dusky. Family tradition asserts the Norman origin for the chiefs comes from two brothers, Ralph and Robert (also called John), who came to Roxburgh from Lancashire. It has never been confirmed who was the elder, although the senior branch of the family, the Kerrs of Ferniehurst claim descent from Ralph, while their rivals, the Kerrs of Cessford descended from John.

Kerr

Kerr may refer to:

People

Places

Buildings and institutions

Dams and lakes

Science and technology

Plants and animals

Other uses

Kerr (given name)

While Kerr is traditionally a Scottish surname, it is also used as an English language given name. People with the given name Kerr include:

See also

Kerr (surname)

Kerr is a Scottish surname ⁱ/kɛr/. See Clan Kerr for the Scottish origins.

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