Kerr Family Tree research resources

Research the background of the Kerr Genealogy using the resources below. We hope you find these sites useful whilst you are researching your Genealogy !

Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 16333 people with the Kerr surname? In that year Kerr was ranked number 230 for popularity in the UK.

"A marsh. The family are descended from Ralph and Robert Ker of Ker Hall in Lancashire, who were living in Roxburghshire in 1340, when Robert Ker obtained from David II, the lands of Oultoburn, and was ancestor of the Kerrs of Cesford. Ralph Ker was the founder of the family of Kerr of Ferniherst. "_{(The origin and signification of Scottish surnames. Clifford Stanley Sims, 1862)}

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"KER, KERR. An old Border surname of local or territorial origin. The Lothian branch of the family spells the name Kerr, and the Roxburgh branch Ker. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries often spelled CARH. The Lancashire Elace name Carr is from Old Norse kjarr, 'copsewood, rushwood.' Johannes Ker, venator (i.e. ' 'hunter') aput Swhynhope (now Soonhope near Peebles), one of the witnesses to the Diuise de Stobbo, c. 1190 (REG., 104), is the first of the name recorded in Border history. William Ker was witness to an agreement between the burgh of Irvine and Brice of Eglunstone (Eglinton) in 1205 (Irvine, i, p. 3). Richard Ker held the lands of Ylifistun (now Eliston) in Roxburghshire, in the reign of Alexander n, and Thomas Kaurr was sheriff of Roxburgh, 1264. The ship of Thomas Ker, merchant of Aberdeen, was plundered at sea by the English in 1273, and Richard Ker was summoned to answer to a charge of trespass at Fenewicke, 1279 (Bain, n, 9, 10, 149). Thomas Keyr or Kayr swore fealty at Kyngorne, 1291, and in 1296 was juror on an inquisition anent the lands of Disarde (Dysart) (ibid., n, p. 124, 204, 216). William Kerre of Ayrshire, Henry Ker of Edinburghshire, and Nicol Kerre of Peeblesshire rendered homage in 1296 (ibid., p. 199, 203, 207), and Wyltiam Ker was one of an inquest on the lands of Lady Elena la Zuche in Conyngham, Ayrshire, 1296 (ibid., p. 216). John Kerr obtained a charter of all the lands and tenements in Auldtounbum resigned by John de Copeland, dated Monday after the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, 1357, and another to him and his wife Mariot of part of the lands of Molle and Auldtounbum in the regality of Sproustoun resigned by William de Blackdene in 1358 (Roxburghe, p. 8). John Keor of Culler was juror in Lanark, 1432 (RAA., n, 65), and Huchon Ker witnessed sealing of an inquest anent a fishing on the Tweed, 1467 (RD., p. 359). Walter Carr of Sesseford was one of the ambassadors of James, king of Scotland, 1491 (Bain, rv, 1577). Car 1515, Kar 1680, Kane 1422, Kere 1493; Cer. The name of the family of Ker of Craden appears in 1686 as Care, Kare, Karr, and Kerr. See under CARR. "_{(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)}

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