Clan Kerr has several branches. The name "Kerr," from the
Old Norse "kjrr" meaning "marsh-dweller," arrived in Scotland from Normandy. In Scotland it was rendered Kerr, Ker, Carr and Carre, with a Scottish variant on the west coast taken from the Gaelic "ciar," meaning dusky. According to the lore of the family of
Mark Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian, the name comes from the Norman chiefs Ralph and Robert, brothers who came to Roxburgh from Lancashire in the 1300s. The Kerrs of Ferniehurst claim descent from Ralph, while the Kerrs of Cessford claim they are descended from Robert. The title went to the eldest of his four sons,
Robert Kerr, 2nd Earl of Lothian. Her husband,
Sir William Kerr (eldest son of
Sir Robert Kerr, later 1st Earl of Ancram) was created
Lord Kerr of Newbattle and
Earl of Lothian in 1631. On her death in 1667 their eldest son became 4th Earl of Lothian (though he was not recognised as such) and on her husband's death in 1675 also 2nd Earl of Lothian.
2nd title as Marquess By this point Sir Robert Kerr, father of the 1st Earl of the 2nd creation, had been created
Lord Kerr of Nisbet, Langnewtoun and Dolphinstoun and
Earl of Ancram, and the titles had been inherited by the 4th and 2nd Earl of Lothian's uncle,
Charles Kerr, on whose death in 1690 he became 3rd Earl of Ancram. He was then created
Lord Ker of Newbattle, Oxnam, Jedburgh, Dolphinstoun and Nisbet,
Viscount of Briene,
Earl of Ancram and
Marquess of Lothian in 1701. The 2nd Marquess succeeded his cousin as
Lord Jedburgh before succeeding to the
Marquessate, and the 6th Marquess was created
Baron Ker, of Kersheugh in the County of Roxburgh, in 1821, in the
Peerage of the United Kingdom. ==Earls of Lothian; First creation (1606)==