Nairn Clan History

Nairn, or Nairne, is a name of territorial origin, coming from the former burgh, and now town of Nairn in the Highlands. It appears that the first Nairn recorded is Adam de Narryn, and, in 1361, he was chaplain of the altar of the Blessed Virgin at Inverness.

In Perth, in 1406, a Michael de Narne was witness to a charter, and Sir John of Narn, sheriff of Forres, and his father John of Narn, laird of Ardmuthach appear in 1414, in an Atholl charter.

In 1440, Alexander de Narn is recorded in Glasgow, whilst ten years later, in 1450, a different Alexander de Narne of Sandfurde (in Fife) witnesses a Perthshire charter, and then another Alexander Narne, who is a Scots messanger, received a gift in 1451.

In 1431, John of Narn served on an inquest, and in 1457, Robert Narne was provost of Stirling, whilst a possible relative of his, Thomas Narne, was a witness there in 1481.

A family of Nairns, known for their manufacturing of linoleum, were great financial contributors to the town of Kirkcaldy in Fife.

Born in Perth, Charles Murray Nairne (1808-1882) was a professor at Columbia University in New York, where he taught moral philosophy and literature.