Find out how popular the last name Kiah is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kiah.

Kiah, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kiah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kiah in America

Kiah is the 53419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kiah surname appeared 387 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kiah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kiah to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kiah

The surname KIAH is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "ciah," which means "key" or "lock." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person who worked as a locksmith or a key maker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KIAH can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, a historical record that dates back to 1166. The name appears as "Kiah," indicating that the spelling has remained relatively consistent over the centuries.

During the medieval period, the name KIAH was primarily concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Northumberland. This suggests that the name may have originated in these regions before spreading to other parts of the country.

In the 14th century, the name KIAH appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership in England compiled by order of William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed in the Yorkshire section, further reinforcing its northern English roots.

One notable individual with the surname KIAH was Sir John Kiah, a wealthy landowner and prominent figure in Yorkshire during the 15th century. He was born in 1412 and died in 1488.

Another significant person with this surname was William Kiah, an English clergyman and scholar who lived in the 16th century. He was born in 1525 and died in 1598, and was known for his contributions to the study of ancient manuscripts.

In the 17th century, the name KIAH was also associated with the village of Kiah in Northumberland. This place name likely derived from the surname, suggesting that the name was well-established in the region by that time.

During the 18th century, the KIAH surname was found in various parts of England, including London and the surrounding areas. One notable figure from this period was Robert Kiah, a successful merchant and trader who lived from 1712 to 1786.

In the 19th century, the name KIAH continued to be widespread across England, with pockets of concentration in Yorkshire, Northumberland, and London. One notable individual from this era was Elizabeth Kiah, a philanthropist and social reformer who lived from 1820 to 1896.

While the surname KIAH has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and immigration. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the northern counties of England, where it first emerged as a name associated with locksmiths and key makers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kiah

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kiah.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kiah was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kiah has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kiah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kiah, please contact us.

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