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Subject: [KERN-L] Re: Kern name of Irish descent?
Date: 20 Jul 2001 19:44:00 -0600
Well, the Kern name is either Irish, Scottish or Germanic. I think most Kerns originate from Germany. However, the name Kern or Kearn or Curran etc is also Irish... and kern in gaelic, means Irish foot soldier. My husband's father's family came from near Frankfurt, but as many of the Irish emigrated to Germany from the 1600's onward, because of religious persecution by the British, it is not impossible that some of the German Kerns may have Irish roots. Christenez would probably be either Portuguese or (more likely) Spanish.
Seems to me if your Kern ancestor was a clerk in an office in Ceylon, that he was most likely Irish/Scottish.... after all, wasn't that time period the heydey of the involvement of the British Empire in that part of the world? Have you checked into the demographics of European emigration to Ceylon at that time period? Also, if your family tradition is that the name is Irish or Scottish, it just might be. Thanks for posting!
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