2000
#14,127
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,954
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.72
Rare Last name
Kier
A Scottish occupational surname referring to a merchant, trader, or one who buys and sells goods.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,132 Americans carry the last name Kier. That puts it at #15,207 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.62 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 160,767 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kier surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Kier with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.1K
1 in 160,767
Census rank
#15,207
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,859 bearers of the surname Kier in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.62 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15207th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kier, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.0%. The next largest groups are Black (12.6%) and Two or More Races (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kier
Among Census respondents with the surname Kier, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.0%. The next largest groups are Black (12.6%) and Two or More Races (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Kier bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Kier surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White75.0% · 1,394
- Black or African American12.6% · 234
- Two or more races4.5% · 83
- Hispanic or Latino3.3% · 62
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.2% · 59
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.5% · 27
Timeline
Historical Census data for Kier
Kier appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#11,348
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,780
+826 bearers (+42.3%)
Per 100,000 0.94
Rank movement Up 2,779 places
2020
#15,207
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,859
-921 bearers (-33.1%)
Per 100,000 0.62
Rank movement Down 3,859 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #14,127 | 1,954 | 0.72 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #11,348 | 2,780 | 0.94 | +826 bearers (+42.3%) | Up 2,779 places |
| 2020 | #15,207 | 1,859 | 0.62 | -921 bearers (-33.1%) | Down 3,859 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Kier surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,348 | #15,207 | -34.0% |
| Count | 2,780 | 1,859 | -33.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.94 | 0.62 | -33.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Kier bearers went from 2,780 to 1,859 (-33.1% change). The surname moved down 3,859 positions in the national ranking, going from #11,348 to #15,207.
FAQ
Kier surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Kier?
Name Census estimates that about 2,132 living Americans carry the surname Kier. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 160,767 residents.
How common is Kier?
Kier ranks #15,207 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.62 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,859 people with the surname Kier. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,132), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.62 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.62 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Kier.
Has Kier become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Kier went from 2,780 recorded bearers to 1,859. That is a decrease of 921 (-33.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #11,348 to #15,207.
What does the Census say about the background of Kier?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kier, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.0%. The next largest groups are Black (12.6%) and Two or More Races (4.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Kier in the 2020 Census, accounting for 75.0% (1,394 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Kier appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (75.0%), Black (12.6%), Two or More Races (4.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Kier (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Kier mean?
A Scottish occupational surname referring to a merchant, trader, or one who buys and sells goods. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Kier (0.62 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Kier?
Find out how many people have the last name Kier on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.