Kerry (name)
Appearance
Language(s) | Irish |
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Origin | |
Region of origin | Irish-British Isles |
Frequency Comparisons: [1] |
Pronunciation | KER-ee |
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Gender | Unisex |
Origin | |
Word/name | Irish Gaelic |
Meaning | "people of Ciar" |
Region of origin | Irish-British Isles |
Other names | |
Related names | Keri, Kerri, Kerrie |
Kerry or Kerri /ˈkɛ.ri/ is both a masculine and feminine English language given name of Gaelic (Irish) origin.
In its original form Ciarraighe (Ciarraí), it denoted the people of Ciar (ciar-raighe), Ciar being the son of Fergus mac Róich,[2] who gave his name to County Kerry.[3] Ciarraighe was thus the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in the area of what is now County Kerry. However branches of the Ciarraighe were all over Ireland:
- Ciarraige Luachra - in what is now north County Kerry and Sliabh Luachra, both named after them.
- Ciarraige Cuirche - due south of what is now Cork City, in Munster.
- Ciarraige Áei - on the plains of central County Roscommon, in Connacht.
- Ciarraighe Locha na nÁirne - in eastern County Mayo in Connacht.
- Ciarraige Airtech - on Magh nAirtig (plain of Airtig, northwest County Roscommon, parish of Tibohine.
- Ciarraige Broengair - location uncertain. The Múscraige Breogain were found south-west of Cashel, Munster.
- Ciarraige Choinnend - location uncertain.
- Ciarraige Trimaige - location uncertain.
- Ciarraige Aidhne - in Aidhne, now south County Galway, Connacht.
Kerry is also a common surname and as such is of Welsh origin, though sometimes spelled Ceri. However, Ceri (pronounced Kerry) is more commonly in Wales a first name, either masculine or feminine.
Notable people with the name
Politics
- Kerry Healey (born 1960), former Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
- John Kerry, United States politician
Film
- Kerry Fox (born 1966), New Zealand actress
- Kerri Green, American actress
- Kerry LaiFatt, Canadian actress
- Kerri Smith, Canadian actress
- Kerry Washington, American actress
Music
- Kerri Chandler, producer of house music
- Kerry Ellis, an English singer and stage actress
- Kerry Katona, pop singer
- Kerry King, Guitarist for thrash metal band Slayer
- Kerry Livgren, a founding member of the progressive rock band Kansas
Sport
- Kerri Buchberger, Canadian volleyball player
- Kerry Collins, American football player
- Kerri Gallagher (born 1989), American middle-distance runner
- Kerry Kittles, American basketball player
- Kerry Ligtenberg, American baseball player
- Kerry O'Brien (athlete), Australian middle-distance runner
- Kerri Pottharst, Australian beach volleyball player
- Kerry Reid, Australian tennis player
- Kerri Strug, American gymnast
- Kerry Von Erich, American wrestler
- Kerri Walsh, American beach volleyball player
- Kerry Wood, American baseball player
- Kerry Joyce, South African gymnast, All Africa champion
Other fields
- Kerri-Anne Kennerley, an Australian television presenter
- Kerri Hoskins, a former glamour model
- Kerri Kasem, an American radio and television host
- Kerri Kendall, an American model and actress
- Kerri Kenney-Silver, an American comedian, actress, singer and writer
- Kerri Sakamoto, a Canadian novelist
- Kerry Gammill, an American comic book artist
- Kerry G. Johnson, graphic designer, caricature artist
- Kerry Joyce, award-winning Los Angeles based interior designer and product designer
- Kerry McCluggage, owner and president of Craftsman Films
- Kerry Packer, Australian media magnate
- Kerry Properties, a property developer in Hong Kong
- Rosemary Forbes Kerry, one of eleven children of James Grant Forbes of the Protestant Forbes family of China and Boston
References
- ^ "Kerry Surname Meaning and Distribution". forebears.co.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2014
- ^ "RootsWeb". County Kerry. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
- ^ "Live views from Ireland: Kerry". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 March 2009.