Show ContentsKier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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. "Alexander del Keire had a gift of money from the king, and Andrew del Ker of Stirlingshire rendered homage in 1296 [to King Edward I of England]. William Ker was one of the burgesses of Stirling who attacked the cruives and fishings of the abbot and convent of Cambuskenneth, 1366. John Kere, burgess of Strivelyne and Mariota his wife had a charter of land in Aberdeen, 1366." 1

Early History of the Kier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kier research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1462, 1544, 1553, 1555, 1558, 1686, 1735, 1743 and 1820 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

Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kier Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kier Ranking

In the United States, the name Kier is the 16,874th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Kier family

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 Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1916 3
  • Katherine S. Kier, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1960, 1964 3
  • Granville Kier, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Gentry County Democratic Party, 1967 3
  • 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.)


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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