Ireland decent of Kern?

Question

hello I have been searcing for my fathers family origin I was told long ago that is was Irish there was a book and a family crest that he was in we where told irish but after looking and searching I have found some decedants I think maybe from Germany?

Answer 1

Can you give more information?

I have found Kern ancestors from both Switzerland and Germany

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Kern-262

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Kern-768

maybe there is a connection to you?

Answer 2

I know this is quite an old question, but for others with a similar question, I thought I would add my understanding of Kern surname background. I am of German (Alsatian, actually) Kerns, and have heard a possible etymology between kern and <i>kernel</i> in German and Dutch, meaning that Kerns are corn/grain farmers.

There is a second Kern surname which is the Irish Kern from McCarron, Curran, etc., which comes from the word meaning warrior.

And finally (although this seems to be rarer), there is an English locale Kern which may result in residence/origin surnames of Kern.

So based on surname alone, both of those are certainly possible sources of the name.