Cairnes is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Alexander Cairnes (1665–1732), Irish politician and banker Colin and Cameron Cairnes, Australian filmmaking duo David Cairnes (1645–1722), Irish lawyer and MP Henry Cairnes (1673–1743), Irish politician, banker, and merchant Isaac Cairnes (died 1890), American politician Jack Cairnes (born 1943), American politician John Cairnes (politician) (17th century), Irish politician John Elliott Cairnes (1823–1875), Irish economist Joseph Cairnes (1907–1993), American engineer and baseball executive William Cairnes (c.1669–1707), Irish politician and merchant William Elliot Cairnes (1862–1902), Irish officer in the British Army
See also Cairnes Anthony Daniell (1834–1915), British civil servant in India Cairnes baronets Mount Cairnes, Yukon, Canada Mount Cairnes (British Columbia) Cairns (disambiguation)