KARN

Origin and etymology In historic texts In the 1881 census Distribution map

Karn

Karn is a British surname of English and Cornish origin. The surname is derived from the medieval personal name 'Carn' which itself comes from the Old English word 'Cearn' meaning 'small rocky hill'. This suggests that the original bearers of the surname Karn may have been associated with living near or on a small rocky elevation.

The Karn surname is relatively rare and has historical origins predominantly in the southwestern counties of England, particularly Cornwall. The variants of the surname Karn include Cairn, Karnes, and Kearnes.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Karn include:

Mick Karn (1958-2011): An influential British musician and songwriter, known for being the bassist of the new wave band Japan.
Boyd Karn: A fictional character in the Peter James' Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series.

The Karn surname may have variations in spelling due to historical factors and migration. Today, those bearing the Karn surname can be found predominantly in Britain and other English-speaking countries.

There are approximately 244 people named Karn in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around four in a million people in Britain are named Karn.

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

Andrew
John
Michael
Nicholas
Paul
Peter
Philip
Richard
Robert
Robin
Stephen

Female

Amanda
Caroline
Christine
Diane
Elizabeth
Frances
Helen
Jessica
Madeleine
Margaret
Nicola
Penelope
Rachel
Sylvia
Zena

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.