The surname Kieber is believed to have originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the German word "Kiebitz," which refers to a type of wading bird known as the lapwing. The earliest known spelling variations of the name include Kyber, Kyeber, and Kieffer.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Kieber can be found in the parish records of the town of Heidelberg, where a Johann Kieber was listed as a resident in 1582. Another early reference comes from the records of the city of Nuremberg, where a Michael Kieber was documented as a merchant in the late 16th century.

During the 17th century, the Kieber name began to spread across various regions of Germany, with families settling in places like Bavaria, Saxony, and Swabia. Some notable individuals from this period include Hans Kieber (1612-1678), a renowned clockmaker from the town of Augsburg, and Anna Maria Kieber (1634-1701), a midwife who practiced in the city of Dresden.

As the Kieber family continued to grow and disperse, some members ventured beyond the borders of Germany. In the late 18th century, a branch of the family settled in the town of Strasbourg, which at the time was part of the French region of Alsace. One of the earliest recorded Kiebers in Alsace was Johann Georg Kieber (1762-1838), who worked as a vintner and tavern keeper.

Another notable figure in the history of the Kieber surname was Carl Friedrich Kieber (1821-1899), a German-American immigrant who became a prominent businessman and philanthropist in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He founded the Kieber Tannery, which was one of the largest leather processing operations in the Midwest during the late 19th century.

Other individuals of note who bore the Kieber surname include:

• Heinrich Kieber (1758-1832), a Bavarian painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits.
• Josephine Kieber (1867-1944), an Austrian opera singer who performed throughout Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Ernst Kieber (1891-1967), a German architect who designed several notable buildings in Berlin and Munich during the interwar period.
• Gerhard Kieber (1920-2003), a Swiss businessman and philanthropist who founded the Kieber Foundation, which supports educational initiatives and cultural preservation efforts.
• Ursula Kieber (born 1955), a German author and journalist who has written extensively on topics related to travel, culture, and the environment.

While the Kieber name has its roots firmly planted in Germany, over the centuries, it has spread to various corners of the world, carried by individuals and families who have left their mark on numerous professions and communities.