Cairns on the Net Clan Cairns Discussion Area Clan Cairns Contacts

• Arms: (of that ilk) Gules, three martlets Or

The name Cairns appears to be derived from Carnys, a name which appears in the fourteenth century throughout Midlothian and West Lothian. During the early sixteenth century however, many Cairns emigrated to Ulster where the name became quite common.

There have been several influential Cairns in history, including Hugh Cairns, who held the titles Lord Cairns (later promoted to earl) and also served as the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. Sir William Cairns served two years as the governor of Queensland, Austrlia and later had a city named after him.