KER, KERR (in the old county of) Roxburgh DATE: 1357 MEANING: a territorial name probably from BRYTHONIC caer `fort´. Johannes Ker, huntsman, was recorded in 1190 and the names Ker, Kaurr, Keyr, Kayr and Kerre appeared in the 13th century. John Kerr was mentioned in a charter in 1357. The Kerrs are traditionally said to be of Anglo-Norman descent settling in the Scottish Borders in the 14th century, however the first of the name appears to be John Ker hunter of Swinhope. The two
main rival branches of the Kerrs descended from two
brothers, Ralph and John who were living near Jedburgh in
the 14th century. The Kerrs of Ferniehurst were
descended from the eldest and the Kers of Cessford from
John.
Although
the two families were constantly in bitter conflict the
descendants of both these houses were appointed Wardens of
the Middle Marches; Sir Andrew of Ferniehurst in 1502 and
Sir Andrew of Cessford after the Battle of Flodden.The Kerrs
continued to oppose one another during the 16th century and
on the death of James IV, when his widow Margaret Tudor
remarried the Douglas Earl of Angus, the Kers of Cessford
supported the English Queen-mother and the Kerrs of
Ferniehurst the young King, James V.
was forced to flee to England when Angus was exiled only to
return on the death of James V in 1542 when Sir John Kerr of
Ferniehurst lost his castle. The castle was recaptured in
1549 and the English who had repeatedly raped the Kerr
women, rather than being killed, were captured and horribly
tortured. The
rivalry continued when Sir Thomas of Ferniehurst fought for
Mary Queen of Scots at Langside and Sir Walter Cessford on
the side of James VI.The feud
was resolved on the political level by the Union of the
Crown and by the marriage of Anne Ker of Cessford to William
Kerr of Ferniehurst.From this
couple descend the Earls and Marquesses of Lothian. Sir
Robert Cessford, son of Sir Walter mentioned above was
created Lord Roxburgh in 1637. By
marriage to the heiress of the Earl of Roxburgh, Sir William
Drummond became 2nd Earl of Roxburgh and assumed the name of
Kerr. His
descendant, John, 5th Earl was created Duke of Roxburgh. Following
the failure of the line with the death of John, 3rd Duke of
Roxburgh the title passed to Sir James Innes of that Ilk who
was 25th Chief of the Innes who adopted the name of Kerr. |