Clan Cairns facts for kids
Clan Cairns is a Scottish clan. It's a group of people who share a common history in Scotland. This clan doesn't have an official chief recognized by the Scottish government. Because of this, it's called an "armigerous clan." This means that long ago, the clan likely had a chief who used a special family coat of arms. However, no one officially uses those specific arms today. The coat of arms for Cairns of that Ilk is described as: a red shield with three golden merlette birds.
What's in a Name?
The name Cairns comes from the Scottish Gaelic word carn. This word means "cairn" or a pile of stones. So, the name Cairns was often given to someone who lived near a cairn. These piles of stones were used as landmarks or memorials. The lands connected to the Cairns name are found in areas called Midlothian and West Lothian in Scotland.
A Glimpse into History
One of the first times the Cairns name appears in history is in 1350. A man named William de Carnys was a witness to an important document. Later, in 1363, this same William de Carnys and his son Duncan owned large areas of land. These lands were known as the baronies of Easter and Wester Whitburn.
Many people with the Cairns name lived in the counties of Midlothian and West Lothian. Even today, you can find many Cairns families living around the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. A detailed book about the family's history was written in 1906. It was called A History of the Family of Cairnes or Cairns and Its Connections by Henry Cairnes Lawlor. This book tells the story of the family for almost 600 years. It starts with William de Carnys and continues up to the time the book was written.
See also
- Cairns (disambiguation)
