This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the caird,' a gipsy, a travelling tinker. A Scotch surname.

'What means that coat ye carry on your back? Ye maun, I ween, unto the Kairds belang.': Ross, Helenore, (Jamieson). 'This captain's true name was Forbes, but nicknamed Kaird, because when he was a boy he served a Kaird.': Spalding (Jamieson).

1802. Married — Henry Woodger and Elizabeth Card: St. George, Hanover Square.

From Gaelic ceard, a craftsman, an artist mechanic, and later a travelling tinker. In an ancient Irish manuscript cerdd is glossed by Latin aerarius (Zeuss, Grammatica Celtica, p. 60), which means 'worker in brass.' Many of the fine old Highland plaid brooches of brass, specimens of which are shown in the Scottish National Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh, are believed to be the work of men of this class. Spalding in his Memorialls (Aberdeen, 1829) referring to an officer in the regiment of the Master of Forbes says: "This captain's true name was Forbes, but nick-named Kaird, because when he was a boy he served a kaird" (p. 191). Ross also refers to the cairds in his Helenore (p. 66):

"What means that coat ye carry on your back?Stolen from Fore-bears

Ye maun, I ween, unto the Kairds belang."

In connection with the old definition of caird as a worker in brass it is interesting to find the caird in Burns's Jolly Beggars say of himself:

" My bonie lass, I work in brass,

A tinkler is my station."

Individuals bearing this name are found in record as early as the thirteenth century. In 1275 Cilfolan Kerd, a mariner in the service of Alexander de Arngadia, was with others arrested at Bristol on suspicion of piracy (Bain, I, 55). Eug Makinkerd (here in represents Gaelic on, 'the') was juror on an inquisition regarding the lands of Inchesturphyn in 13c. (RD., p. 222), and Gregor Makenkerd was to serve Edward I abroad in 1297 (Bain, II, 942). Payment was made to Robert Kerd in 1343 for four horseshoes for the king, David II, and for material for his jousting spear (ER., I, p. 528). Adam Kerde in the parish of Fyvy was excommunicated in 1382 (REA., I, p. 165), John Kerde was commissioner of the burgh of Irvine in 1430 (Irvine, I, 23), William Kerd is named as a witness in Prestwick in 1446 (Prestwick, p. 114), and Robert Kerde was a priest and notary public in the diocese of Glasgow in 1453 (Scois lore, p. 272). Gilchrist Mcincaird witnessed a bond of man-rent in 1592 (Coll., p. 198), Gillespie MacIncaird is in record in Monyvaird, Perthshire, c. 1602 (RPC., VI p. 60) and Duncane Mcincaird in Glenurcht in 1611 (ibid., IX, p. 140). John Caird in Balledman was fined in 1613 or reset of Clan Gregor (ibid., XIV p. 635), Angus Mclnkeard or Mclnkaird appears at Barawirich or Bartanemireach (in Perthshire), in 1618 (ibid., XI, p. 415,486), and David Kaierd died at Carmyllie in 1632 (Jeroise, I, p. 248). The surname of John Caird, the Tinkler Covenanting preacher of the Heart of Midlothian (c. xlvii) infers his descent from a race of ceards. On the West coast this name has been Anglicized by the Norman 'Sinclair,' instead of Tinker or Tinkler. Card 1531, Keeard 1721, Keerd 1726. of Macnocard.

Probably a variant of Caird, which see. Richard Card, late The Royal Scots, died in Edinburgh, 1941. In 1531 the name Caird appears once as Card.

(Celtic) Smith, Tinker [Gaelic and Irish ceard] But though his little heart did grieve When round the tinkler [tinker] pressed her, He feigned to snirtle in his sleeve When thus the caird addressed her:— My bonny lass, I work in brass, A tinkler is my station; I’ve travelled round all Christian ground In this my occupation.—Burns, The Jolly Beggars.

Many Celtic Cairds have translated themselves into English Smiths.

(Scottish) A craftsman; a traveling tinker who repaired pots and kettles.

A Gipsy; a travelling tinker; a sturdy beggar. Jamieson.

A word used in some parts of Scotland to denote a traveling tinker. Ceairde, Gaelic, a tradesman.

Lower considers this the same as Caird, which Jamieson renders a gipsy, a travelling tinker, a sturdy beggar.

Caird: a tinker.