Kerry (name)

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, and 2014 presidential candidate

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

• Kerry Brown (wrestler), Canadian professional wrestler
• 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 professional 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