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Subject: [KERN-L] Re: Are Kerns from Germany descended from Irish immigrants?
Date: 13 Aug 2001 00:51:07 -0600

Basically, my understanding from my dad's extensive genealogical work as a leading mormon shows:
Kern = Kerne but the second e was dropped in many censuses.
Problem is:
Some census-takers heard a Kern say "kern-uh", wrote Kern (not hearing the second 'e') or misheard and wrote Kerner. Others misheard, particularly those in Louisiana, so it came out Kenner as well.
The name Kern[e] in german means "center" or "nucleus".
You'd use this term, "kerning a picture" or "let's kern the set" to center or straighten out a movie set or picture [in a frame].
The second problem is:
the same census-takers further north would hear the gaelics speak the name Curran and the accent'd taken for Kern, (as many weren't skilled in querying on how to spell a name or were poor writers).
A third problem is that further west/south the name'd be corrupted to Querne or Quern or Quenne. Oh boy.
It depended on the census-takers or ministers/ priests who'd baptize what was written down.
Lovely.
Anyhow, to any interested, I'm descended from the Kerns of Louisiana.

Jim Kern

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