The Kier surname is a habitational name, taken on from the place name, in Stirlingshire.
Early Origins of the Kier family
The surname Kier was first found in on the marches of Westere Fedale in 1242, where Patrick Ker was a juror.
Early History of the Kier family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kier research.
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1366, and 1462 are included under the topic Early Kier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Kier Spelling Variations
Scottish surnames are distinguished by a multitude of
spelling variations because, over the centuries, the names were frequently translated into and from Gaelic. Furthermore, the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent because medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules. The different versions of a surname, such as the inclusion of the
patronymic prefix "Mac", frequently indicated a religious or
Clan affiliation or even a division of the family. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into
Scotland, accelerating accentuating the alterations to various surnames. The name Kier has also been spelled Keir, Kier and others.
Early Notables of the Kier family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Kier Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Kier family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Kier, or a variant listed above: Agnes Keir, who was transported to America in 1687; James Keir, who arrived in United States or West Indies in 1699; William Keir, who came to Boston in 1713.
Contemporary Notables of the name Kier (post 1700)
- Harley William "K.W." Kier (1891-1967), American film producer
- David A. Kier, American politician, 9th Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office(1997-2001)
- Lemont Kier (b. 1930), American chemist and researcher
- Lady Miss Kier (b. 1963), stage name of Kierin Magenta Kirby, American singer and DJ
- Samuel Martin Kier (1813-1874), American inventor and businessman, known for his work in petroleum refining, often referred to as the Grandfather of the American Oil Industry
- W. H. Kier, American Democrat politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1916 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Katherine S. Kier, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1960, 1964 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Granville Kier, American Democrat politician, Chair of Gentry County Democratic Party, 1967 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Olaf Kier CBE (1899-1986), Danish founder of Kier Group in 1928, one of the United Kingdom's largest construction businesses
- Udo Kier (b. 1944), German actor
- ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)