Kiewra last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Kiewra

A Polish surname derived from a place name.

Kiewra, 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 Kiewra surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Kiewra in America

Kiewra is the 149328th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kiewra surname appeared 101 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kiewra.

The history of the last name Kiewra

The surname Kiewra hails from Poland, a country with a rich and varied history of surnames that often reflect geographical, occupational, or familial origins. It likely emerged in the medieval period, roughly around the 14th to 15th centuries, when surnames began to be adopted more broadly in Europe. The name appears to be of Polish origin, with linguistic roots that are Slavic.

In terms of etymology, Kiewra may be derived from an older, now-obsolete Slavic word or root. The similarities in phonetics suggest it could be linked to geographic descriptors or even personal characteristics. The precise old words or similar spellings remain difficult to pin down without more specific historic linguistic studies, but the structure and sound are typical of Eastern European surnames.

Historical records mentioning the name Kiewra are sparse, reflecting its relatively uncommon nature. However, early references can be found in various regional documents, including church records and tax registries. One of the oldest known references is from the late 16th century in Poland, where a Jan Kiewra was listed in a parish register in Krakow, dated around 1580. This suggests that the family had established some prominence in the region by this time.

In the 17th century, the name appears more frequently in legal documents and land records. A notable individual from this period is Andrzej Kiewra, born in 1615, who was documented as a landowner in the Masovian Voivodeship. His records indicate involvement in local governance and community affairs, reflecting a respected social standing.

By the 18th century, members of the Kiewra family were recorded in various parts of Poland, including a Jozef Kiewra, born in 1730, who served as a clerk in the Podlaskie region. His descendants continued to hold clerical and minor noble positions within the community, suggesting a lineage that maintained a steady, if not illustrious, presence in the local administrative structures.

Moving into the 19th century, the most prominent bearers of the name include Antoni Kiewra, born in 1821, who was an influential figure in Warsaw. As an educator and minor official, his contributions to local educational reforms were noted in several historical texts. Another noteworthy individual is Maria Kiewra, born in 1857, who was recognized for her work in charity and social services in Krakow, significantly advancing the welfare of women and children.

Throughout these periods, the surname Kiewra remained relatively rare but consistently appeared in records tied to individuals who played noteworthy roles within their communities. Historical significance and familial achievements ensured that the name, while not widespread, was documented and preserved in various regional chronicles and archives.

The surname Kiewra, though not prominent in every historical epoch, provides an intriguing glimpse into the life and movements of a family whose members contributed meaningfully to their locales, reflecting the broader historical currents of Polish and Eastern European history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kiewra

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kiewra was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 97.03% 98
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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"Kiewra last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 9, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/kiewra-surname-popularity/.

"Kiewra last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/kiewra-surname-popularity/. Accessed 9 July, 2025

Kiewra last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/kiewra-surname-popularity/.

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