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

Kir, 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 Kir surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kir in America

Kir is the 128249th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kir surname appeared 133 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 Kir.

The history of the last name Kir

The surname "Kir" is of Russian origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century or earlier. The name is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Russia, particularly around the areas of Novgorod and Tver.

One theory suggests that "Kir" is derived from the Old Russian word "kyr," which means "lord" or "master." This could indicate that the name was initially used to denote a person of authority or high social standing within the community.

Another possible origin of the name is that it may have been a shortened version of the Russian name "Kirill" or "Cyril," which comes from the Greek name "Kyrillos," meaning "lordly" or "masterful." This connection further reinforces the potential association with leadership or dominance.

In terms of historical references, the name "Kir" has been found in various old records and manuscripts from the 16th and 17th centuries. For example, there are mentions of individuals with this surname in the census records of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, which was a predecessor of the Russian Empire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "Kir" was Ivan Kir, who lived in the late 16th century and served as a military commander during the reign of Tsar Feodor I Ivanovich. Another notable figure was Andrei Kir, a merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Novgorod in the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, a prominent bearer of the name was Mikhail Kir (1703-1768), a Russian nobleman and statesman who held influential positions during the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

During the 19th century, the name "Kir" was associated with several notable individuals, including Pyotr Kir (1810-1878), a celebrated Russian author and poet, and Nikolai Kir (1834-1901), a prominent military leader who served in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878.

It's worth noting that some variations of the spelling of the name, such as "Kyr" or "Kir'," can also be found in historical records, reflecting the evolution of the name over time and different regional influences.

While the surname "Kir" has its origins in Russia, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities, with bearers of the name found in various countries today.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kir

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

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 Kir 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.

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

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

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