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name Uncommon

Cairns

keh-uhnz
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Cairns (name) means a Scottish or Irish surname, and a city in Queensland, Australia named after Governor William Cairns. Example: “They dove the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns.”

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A Scottish or Irish surname, and a city in Queensland, Australia named after Governor William Cairns.
"They dove the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns."
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Can you complete this real example?

They dove the Great Barrier Reef from _____.

Etymology

As a Scottish surname, it comes from Scots cairn, describing a manmade heap or mound of stones. As an Irish surname, it comes from Ó Ciaráin, anglicised as Kieran and Kearns, and is sometimes conflated with the Scottish surname above.

Frequently asked questions

What does “Cairns” mean?
The word “Cairns” means a Scottish or Irish surname, and a city in Queensland, Australia named after Governor William Cairns.
How do you pronounce “Cairns”?
“Cairns” is pronounced keh-uhnz (/kɛɹnz/ in IPA).
How do you use “Cairns” in a sentence?
Here is “Cairns” used in a sentence: “They dove the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns.”
What part of speech is “Cairns”?
“Cairns” is a name.
Is “Cairns” a common word?
“Cairns” is an uncommon word in modern English.