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 lands of Cairns are located in Midlothian and West Lothian. Cairns Castle is thought to have been built around 1440 and comprises of a rectangular main tower attached to which was a smaller square wing.
The castle stands on a raised mound jutting out into the Harperrig Reservoir where it is fed by the Water of Leith. Cairns was originally the seat of the Cairns family, with William de Carnys on record in 1349. It’s likely that they had a castle on the land however whether or not it was on the same site is not known.
Clan Cairns Badge, Scottish Lowland Clan
Each item begins as a piece of bronze sheet metal. After a pattern is transferred to the metal, the piece is etched in a salt-water solution. Each piece is hand cut, sanded, and polished. The pin back is soldered on. A patina has been applied giving the metal that aged look. A clear polymer coating is applied to the face of the badge.