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

Kier, 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 Kier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kier in America

Kier is the 11348th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kier surname appeared 2,780 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kier 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 Kier

The surname Kier is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "ciar," meaning "dusky" or "dark-haired," suggesting that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a dark complexion or hair color.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This document mentions a "William Kier" among the signatories, indicating the presence of the name in Scotland during that period.

The Kier surname is particularly associated with the regions of Perthshire and Angus in eastern Scotland, where it has been prevalent for centuries. The name has also been linked to various place names in these areas, such as Kier Mill and Kier Hill, suggesting a connection between the surname and specific locations.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Kier surname was John Kier, a Scottish clergyman and scholar who lived from around 1520 to 1599. He served as the minister of the parish of Bathgate and was known for his work in translating portions of the Bible into Scottish vernacular.

During the 17th century, the Kier surname gained prominence through the exploits of Sir John Kier of Milnathort (1594-1675), a Scottish landowner and military commander. He fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War and was knighted by King Charles II in recognition of his loyalty and service.

Another notable individual with the Kier surname was James Kier (1735-1805), a Scottish architect and surveyor who made significant contributions to the development of Edinburgh's New Town. His architectural works include several prominent buildings in the city, such as the Assembly Rooms and the Old College of the University of Edinburgh.

In the 19th century, the Kier family established themselves as successful entrepreneurs and businessmen. One prominent example is John Kier (1805-1887), the founder of the Kier Group, a major construction and property development company based in the United Kingdom. The company has played a significant role in various infrastructure projects and continues to operate to this day.

Throughout its history, the Kier surname has maintained a strong presence in Scotland, although it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. The name's origins as a descriptive nickname and its association with specific regions and individuals contribute to its rich heritage and cultural significance within Scottish history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kier

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

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 Kier 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 Kier 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 Kier was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!