Small dark one or a foot soldier
Derived from the Irish surname Ó Ceithearnaigh, meaning descendant of Ceithearnach. The name originally referred to a 'kern,' a type of Gaelic foot soldier in the Middle Ages. It is also associated with the Gaelic word 'ciar,' meaning dark or swarthy.
Less common today
Kern isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #5,915 in 1990.
American Olympic gymnast
A character in the fantasy novel series · The Belgariad
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
