Kerry or Kerri is both a

masculine Masculinity (also called manhood or manliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles associated with men and boys. Masculinity can be theoretically understood as socially constructed, and there is also evidence that some behaviors con ...

and feminine

English language English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, with its earliest forms spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the is ...

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

of Gaelic (Irish) origin. In its original form Ciarraighe (''Ciarraí''), it denoted ''the kingdom of Ciar'' (''ciar raighe''), Ciar being the son of

Fergus mac Róich Fergus mac Róich (literally " manliness, son of great stallion") is a character in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Formerly the king of Ulster, he is tricked out of the kingship and betrayed by Conchobar mac Nessa, becomes the ally and lo ...

, who gave his name to County Kerry. 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 Sliabh Luachra (), sometimes anglicised Slieve Logher, is an upland region in Munster, Ireland. It is on the borders of counties Cork, Kerry and Limerick, and bounded to the south by the River Blackwater. It includes the Mullaghareirk Mounta ...

, both named after them. * Ciarraige Cuirche - due south of what is now

Cork City Cork ( , from , meaning 'marsh') is the second largest city in Ireland and third largest city by population on the island of Ireland. It is located in the south-west of Ireland, in the province of Munster. Following an extension to the city's ...

, in Munster. * Ciarraige Áei - on the plains of central

County Roscommon "Steadfast Irish heart" , image_map = Island of Ireland location map Roscommon.svg , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Ireland , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = Connacht , subdi ...

, in

Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms ( Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Del ...

. * Ciarraighe Locha na nÁirne - in eastern

County Mayo County Mayo (; ga, Contae Mhaigh Eo, meaning "Plain of the Taxus baccata, yew trees") is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Conn ...

. * Ciarraige Airtech - on Magh nAirtig (plain of Airtig, northwest

, parish of Tibohine. * Ciarraige Broengair - location uncertain. The

Múscraige The Múscraighe (older spelling: Músgraige) were an important Érainn people of Munster, descending from Cairpre Músc, son of Conaire Cóem, a High King of Ireland. Closely related were the Corcu Duibne, Corcu Baiscind, both of Munster, and ...

''Breogain'' were found south-west of Cashel, Munster. * Ciarraige Choinnend - location uncertain. * Ciarraige Trimaige - location uncertain. * Ciarraige Aidhne - in

Aidhne Aidhne (modern Irish: ), also known as Uí Fhiachrach Aidhni, Mag nAidni, later Maigh Aidhne ("Plain (of) Aidhne"), was the territory of the Uí Fhiachrach Aidhni, a túath (tribal kingdom) located in the south of what is now County Galway in ...

, now south County Galway,

Notable people with the name

Acting, presenting, and radio

Kerry Bishé Kerry Lynne Bishé (born May 1, 1984) is a New Zealand-born American actress, known for her lead role as Donna Clark in the AMC television series '' Halt and Catch Fire''. Bishé played the lead/narrator role in the final season of the ABC medi ...

, actress *

Kerry Fox Kerry Lauren Fox (born 30 July 1966) is a New Zealand actress. She came to prominence playing author Janet Frame in the movie '' An Angel at My Table'' directed by Jane Campion, which gained her a Best Actress Award from the New Zealand Film and ...

(born 1966), New Zealand actress *

Kerri Green Kerri Lee Green (born ) is an American actress, best known for her roles in ''The Goonies'' (1985), ''Summer Rental'' (1985), and '' Lucas'' (1986). She also co-wrote and directed the film ''Bellyfruit'' (1999). Early life Green grew up in Wo ...

, American actress *

Kerri Kasem Kerri Kasem (born Carrie H. Kasem, July 12, 1972) is an American radio host. She hosted the nationally syndicated '' Sixx Sense'' and ''The Side Show Countdown With Nikki Sixx'' from February 2010 to April 2014. Kasem later became a judge on ''Who ...

, an American radio and television host * Kerri Kendall, an American model and actress *

Kerri Kenney-Silver Kerri Kenney-Silver (born January 20, 1970) is an American actress, comedian, writer, singer, and musician. She is best known for starring as Trudy Wiegel on the mockumentary series ''Reno 911!'' and previously for her sketch comedy work on MTV ...

, an American comedian, actress, singer and writer *

Kerri-Anne Kennerley Kerri-Anne Kennerley (née Wright; born 22 September 1953) is an Australian television and radio presenter, actress and singer. She has more than 50 years in the industry, and is an inductee into the Logie Hall of Fame. Kennerley was a co-host ...

, an Australian television presenter * Kerry LaiFatt, Canadian actress *

Kerry Rossall Kerry Darrell Rossall (born June 23, 1947) is an American stuntman, actor and producer. He is best known for portraying "Mike from San Diego" in the 1979 war film ''Apocalypse Now.'' Rossall's career as a stuntman and coordinator stems films suc ...

, American stuntman and actor *

Kerry Shale Kerry Shale is a Canadian actor and writer based in London, England. Filmography Film Television Video games References External links * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Shale, Kerry Living people 20th-century British male actors 20th-century Ca ...

, Canadian actor, voice artist and writer *

Kerry Washington Kerry Marisa Washington (born January 31, 1977) SidebarCertificate of Live Birth: Isabelle Amarachi Asomugha(County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health). Gives Kerry Washington birth dateArchivedfrom the original on May 2, 2016.Note: Fi ...

, American actress

Politics

* Kerry J. Donley (1956-2022), American politician * Kerry Healey (born 1960), American politician, former Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts

Music

* Kerry Alexander, lead singer of the Minnesota-based band

Bad Bad Hats Bad Bad Hats is an indie pop band formed in 2012 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is composed of Kerry Alexander (born July 1990), Chris Hoge, and Connor Davison. The band is named after a trouble-making character in ''Madeline''. The band has toured ...

Kerri Chandler Kerri Camar Chandler (born 28 September 1969) is an American house DJ and record producer. Biography Chandler's influences go back to New Jersey, growing up in a family of jazz musicians. His father, Joseph Chandler, was a DJ and provided him wi ...

, producer of house music *

Kerry Ellis Kerry Jane Ellis (born 6 May 1979) is an English actress and singer who is best known for her work in musical theatre and subsequent crossover into music. Born and raised in Suffolk, Ellis began performing at an early age before training at La ...

, an English singer and stage actress *

Kerry Katona Kerry Jayne Elizabeth Katona (born 6 September 1980) is a British media personality and singer. She was a member of girl group Atomic Kitten from 1998 until her first departure in 2001 and again from 2012 until her second departure in 2017. ...

, pop singer *

Kerry King Kerry Ray King (born June 3, 1964) is an American musician, best known for being the co-lead guitarist and songwriter of thrash metal band Slayer. He co-founded the band with Jeff Hanneman in 1981 and remained a member for nearly four decades. ...

, Guitarist for thrash metal band Slayer *

Kerry Livgren Kerry Allen Livgren (born September 18, 1949) is an American musician, best known as one of the founding members and primary songwriters for the American rock band Kansas. Biography Livgren was raised in Topeka, Kansas, by his father Allen ...

, a founding member of the progressive rock band Kansas *

Kerry McGregor Kerry McGregor (30 October 1974 – 4 January 2012) was a Scottish singer-songwriter and actress from West Lothian. McGregor appeared on the third UK series of ''The X Factor'', where she was mentored by Sharon Osbourne. McGregor died on 4 ...

(1974–2012), Scottish singer-songwriter and actress

Sport

* Kerry Blackshear Jr. (born 1997), American basketball player in the

Israeli Basketball Premier League Ligat HaAl ( he, ליגת העל, lit., ''Supreme League or Premier League''), or the Israeli Basketball Premier League, is the top-tier level league of professional sports, professional competition in Israeli sports club, club basketball, making ...

Kerry Brown (wrestler) Kerry Brown (February 3, 1958 – September 10, 2009) was a Canadian professional wrestler. Brown was best known for working in Stampede Wrestling in the 1980s under his real name, but also wrestled in Puerto Rico, Montreal and the Maritimes using ...

, Canadian professional wrestler * Kerri Buchberger, Canadian volleyball player *

Kerry Collins Kerry Michael Collins (born December 30, 1972) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. Collins was a member of six NFL teams, most notably the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, ...

, American football player * Kerri Gallagher (born 1989), American middle-distance runner * Kerry Joyce, South African gymnast, All Africa champion * Kerry Kittles, American basketball player *

Kerry Ligtenberg Kerry Dale Ligtenberg (born May 11, 1971) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and coach. Early life Ligtenberg was born in Rapid City, South Dakota. He graduated from Park High School in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. Playing career After att ...

, American baseball player * Kerry O'Brien (athlete), Australian middle-distance runner * Kerri Pottharst, Australian beach volleyball player *

Kerry Reid Kerry Melville Reid (née Melville; born 7 August 1947) is a former professional tennis player from Australia. During her 17-year career, Reid won one Grand Slam singles title and 26 other singles titles and was the runner-up in 40 singles to ...

, Australian tennis player *

Kerri Strug Kerri Allyson Strug (born November 19, 1977) is a retired American gymnast from Tucson, Arizona. She was a member of the Magnificent Seven, the victorious all-around women's gymnastics team that represented the United States at the 1996 Summer ...

, American gymnast *

Kerry Von Erich Kerry Gene Adkisson (February 3, 1960 – February 18, 1993), better known by his ring name Kerry Von Erich, was an American professional wrestler. He was part of the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers. He is best known for his time with ...

, American professional wrestler *

Kerri Walsh Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings (born August 15, 1978) is an American professional beach volleyball player, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and a one-time Olympic bronze medalist. She is the beach volleyball leader in career victories as of 2016 ha ...

, American beach volleyball player *

Kerry Wood Kerry Lee Wood (born June 16, 1977) is an American former baseball pitcher who played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, and New York Yankees. Wood first came to prominence as a 20-year-old rook ...

, American baseball player

Other fields

Kerry Gammill Kerry Gammill (born April 26, 1954) is an American artist who has worked in the fields of comic books, special effects, storyboards, and character designs. As a comic book artist, he is best known for his work on ''Power Man and Iron Fist'' ...

, American comic book artist * Kerri Greenidge, American historian and academic * Kerri Hoskins, former glamour model * Kerrie Hughes, New Zealand fashion designer *

Kerry G. Johnson Kerry G. Johnson is an African-American cartoonist, graphic designer, art director, caricaturist and children's book illustrator. He specializes in caricatures but has created cartoons, illustrations and news graphic work (maps, information gra ...

, graphic designer, caricature artist * Kerry Joyce, American interior designer and product designer *

Kerry McCluggage Kerry McCluggage (born November 29, 1954) is an American television and film production executive who developed and produced such iconic shows as ''Miami Vice'', ''Cheers '', and ''Law & Order''. He served as President of Universal Television for ...

, owner and president of Craftsman Films * Kerry Packer, Australian media magnate *

Kerri Sakamoto Kerri Sakamoto (born 1960 in Toronto) is a Canadian novelist. Her novels commonly deal with the experience of Japanese Canadians. Sakamoto's debut novel, ''The Electrical Field'' (1998), won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book. It ...

, Canadian novelist * Kerry Mitchell, American artist

Surname

* Richard John Kerry (1915–2000), American Foreign Service officer and lawyer, son of Frederick A. "Fred" Kerry (born Fritz Kohn, 1873– 1921) *

Rosemary Forbes Kerry Rosemary Isabel Forbes (October 27, 1913 – November 14, 2002) was an American nurse, social activist, and the mother of John Forbes Kerry, the 68th United States Secretary of State and the 2004 Democratic nominee for president of the United St ...

, one of 11 children of James Grant Forbes of the Protestant Forbes family of China and Boston, wife of Richard John Kerry *

John Kerry John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943) is an American attorney, politician and diplomat who currently serves as the first United States special presidential envoy for climate. A member of the Forbes family and the Democratic Party (Unite ...

, John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943), United States politician and 2004 presidential candidate, son of Richard John Kerry * Cameron Kerry, Cameron Forbes Kerry (born September 6, 1950), son of Richard John Kerry, American politician *

Charles Kerry Charles Henry Kerry (3 April 1857 – 26 May 1928) was an Australian photographer noted for his photographs that contributed to the development of the Australian national psyche and romance of the bush. Early life and career Kerry was born o ...

, Charles Henry Kerry (3 April 1857 – 26 May 1928), photographer *

Alexandra Kerry Alexandra Forbes Kerry (born September 5, 1973) is an American actress and filmmaker. She is a partner at Locomotive Films and co-founder of Fictional Pictures, a film production company based in New York and Los Angeles. She is married to conte ...

, Alexandra Forbes Kerry (born September 5, 1973) is an American filmmaker. *

Richard Kerry Richard John Kerry (July 28, 1915 – July 29, 2000) was an American Foreign Service officer and lawyer. He was the father of politicians John Kerry and Cameron Kerry. Early life Kerry was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, to shoe merchant Fr ...

, Richard John Kerry (July 28, 1915 – July 29, 2000) *

Vanessa Kerry Vanessa Bradford Kerry (born December 31, 1976) is an American physician, health care administrator, and doctor. She is a founder of the non-profit Seed Global Health. Her father is John Kerry, who served as the 68th United States Secretary o ...

, Vanessa Bradford Kerry (born December 31, 1976), American physician and health care administrator

References

{{surname, Kerry English unisex given names English-language unisex given names Irish unisex given names Irish-language unisex given names