Kerns is a village in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. Kerns is first mentioned in 1036 as Chernz though this mention is from a 14th Cen…Kerns is a village in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. Kerns is first mentioned in 1036 as Chernz though this mention is from a 14th Century copy of the original document. After 1101 it was normally mentioned as Chernes.