What's behind the name of Wilmington's Kerr Avenue and the debate over how to say it
The great debate. This one has nothing to do with politics or religion. It is the never-ending debate behind the name of Kerr Avenue, the road in Wilmington.
That is, how to pronounce it.
First of all, where did the name originate?
More: These Wilmington roads see the most pedestrian-involved crashes. Here's what's being done.
In a book by Donald Whyte, "Scottish Surnames & Families," says "It is often stated that the surname Ker, Kerr or Carr is derived from a Lancashire place-name, meaning a corpse or wood and that the earliest so-named were of Anglo-Norman origin."
The road was named for James T. Kerr, a Confederate veteran who was a well-known New Hanover County truck farmer in the late 1800s.
A story by StarNews reporter John Staton, says whether they pronounce it "car" or "cur," this is a hill many Wilmingtonians will die on, although it's not as clear-cut as some might think. Even descendants argue on the pronunciation.
And MyReporter fuels simmering debate over 'Kerr in an article dated Dec. 27, 2011.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: How do you pronounce Kerr Avenue in Wilmington, NC
