The Irish surname Kearns is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name  Ó Céirín meaning ‘descendant of Céirín,” a personal name from a diminutive of ciar meaning “dark, or black.” The literal translation was “ son of the dark haired one.”  The name is also anglicized as Carnes. The Kearns clan originated in the west of Ireland where the clan were in about the year 1420, in possession of the greater part of the present barony of Costello in County Mayo. An inquisition of 1609 describes them as erenaghs or hereditary holders of church property, of Killaghtee in the diocese of Raphoe, and in the census of 1659 they are also located in County Sligo.  Notable bearers of the surname Kearns include the early US Senator from teh state of Utah, Thomas Kearns. Thomas was an American mining, banking, railroad, and newspaper magnate. He was a Senator from 1901 to 1905. Unlike the predominantly Mormon constituents of his state, Senator Kearns was catholic.

KEARNS BARONET CREST PENDANT