The name ?Cairn” is a relatively uncommon surname of English and Scottish origin. The surname Cairns is�derived from the Scottish Gaelic ?Carn?, meaning ?Cairn”�.�It is a topographic name for someone who lived near a cairn.�
The surname “Cairn” could have derived from a toponym, indicating a person who lived near or was associated with a specific cairn. A cairn is a mound of stones used as a marker, memorial, or boundary. The surname might have been given to individuals who resided near such landmarks. The lands of Cairns are located in Midlothian and West Lothian.