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

Kiner, 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 Kiner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kiner in America

Kiner is the 21439th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kiner surname appeared 1,219 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 Kiner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kiner 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 Kiner

The surname KINER has its origins in the German language, with the earliest records dating back to the 16th century in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "kine," meaning "wedge" or "chisel," which may have been a reference to an occupation or trade related to woodworking or metalworking.

One of the earliest mentions of the KINER surname can be found in the records of Nuremberg, Germany, where a Johann Kiner was listed as a master carpenter in 1582. This suggests that the name may have been associated with the woodworking trade in its early years.

In the 17th century, the KINER surname began to spread beyond Bavaria and Saxony, appearing in records from other German states such as Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is possible that members of the KINER family migrated to these regions in search of new opportunities or during periods of unrest.

The first recorded instance of the KINER surname in the English-speaking world can be traced back to the late 18th century, when a Johann Kiner emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in the United States. This early immigrant may have been fleeing the upheaval caused by the Napoleonic Wars or seeking economic opportunities in the New World.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the KINER surname. One such person was Johann Kiner (1805-1879), a German-born architect who designed several prominent buildings in the city of Dresden, including the Semper Opera House and the Zwinger Palace.

Another distinguished KINER was Wilhelm Kiner (1856-1924), a German physicist and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early radio technology. He is credited with designing one of the first practical radio transmitters and receivers in the late 19th century.

In the field of literature, the KINER surname is represented by the American author and journalist Ralph Kiner (1922-2014), who was best known for his work as a baseball broadcaster and writer. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975 for his achievements as a player and broadcaster.

The KINER name has also been associated with the arts, with the American painter and printmaker Gertrude Kiner (1885-1967) gaining recognition for her vibrant and colorful works that captured the spirit of rural life in the Midwest.

While the KINER surname may not be as widespread as some other German names, it has left its mark on various fields throughout history, from architecture and science to sports and the arts, reflecting the diverse talents and accomplishments of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kiner

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

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

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

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