Keir Surname

87,711th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 5,482 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
Scotland
Highest density in:
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Keir Surname Definition:

(I) Local, from Keir in Stirlingshire. Patrick Ker was one of the jurors on the marches of Westere Fedale, 1242 (LAC., p. 26). Alexander del Keire had a gift of money from the king (ER., I, p. 115), and Andrew del Ker of Stirlingshire rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p.

Read More About This Surname

Keir Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Scotland1,1261:4,755814
Australia1,1161:24,1903,316
United States1,0861:333,75630,177
England1,0071:55,3316,722
Canada5571:66,1507,666
New Zealand2201:20,5833,608
South Africa1191:455,27538,276
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines631:1,788360
Wales481:64,4695,713
Estonia191:69,56912,771
Spain101:4,675,20478,608
Thailand91:7,848,705447,191
Somalia91:1,494,6733,608
United Arab Emirates91:1,018,03036,884
Trinidad and Tobago81:170,4978,814
Mauritania81:511,85818,608
Papua New Guinea81:1,019,215101,897
Netherlands61:2,814,529101,176
Qatar61:393,00055,922
Malaysia61:4,915,704170,578
Germany51:16,101,092397,699
Brazil41:53,518,583632,670
Singapore41:1,376,92628,409
Hong Kong31:2,445,1619,595
Northern Ireland31:615,01218,081
China21:683,660,78330,601
Argentina21:21,371,707253,176
Indonesia21:66,124,597756,638
Ukraine21:22,761,348425,733
Bulgaria11:6,978,90586,260
Venezuela11:30,204,07785,459
Algeria11:38,631,551130,422
Tanzania11:52,941,613123,716
Sweden11:9,846,757347,448
Sudan11:37,510,19514,259
Norway11:5,142,286129,201
Namibia11:2,409,40119,676
Morocco11:34,476,099111,471
Mexico11:124,126,205103,776
Lebanon11:5,637,08332,436
Kenya11:46,179,900103,372
Jersey11:99,2026,620
Israel11:8,557,634182,558
France11:66,422,722504,397
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland121:369,15613,616
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Scotland1,2861:2,911498
England2201:110,79710,856
Wales61:261,4039,165
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States1291:389,29229,048

Keir (3,324) may also be a first name.

Keir Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

(I) Local, from Keir in Stirlingshire. Patrick Ker was one of the jurors on the marches of Westere Fedale, 1242 (LAC., p. 26). Alexander del Keire had a gift of money from the king (ER., I, p. 115), and Andrew del Ker of Stirlingshire rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 210). William Ker was one of the burgesses of Stirling who attacked the cruives and fishings of the abbot and convent of Cambuskenneth, 1366 (Cambus., 55). John Kere, burgess of Strivelyne and Mariota his wife had a charter of land in Aberdeen, 1366 (RMS., I, 229), and William of Keir witnessed a deed at Cluny, 1462 (SCM., V, p. 286). Robert Kar, a monk of Inch affray, 1544—64 (Inchaffray, intro., p. xcviii-ix). Thomas Kar was deacon of craft in Stirling, 1555 (SBR., p. 278), and Thomas Kere rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the burgh of Forfar, 1558 (ER., XIX, p. 40). Kire 1686. (2) A personal name, from Gaelic ciar, swarthy. Donald McDonche W'Alexander Keir and Malcolm M'Neill V'Alexander Keire were witnesses to a seisin of lands in Ayrshire, 1553 (OPS., II, p. 86).

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

(Celtic) 1 of Dark Complexion [Gaelic and Irish ciar] 2 belonging to Keir (Scotland) [prob. Gaelic cathair-Welsh caer, a fort]

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

Place name in Stirlingshire, Scotland. (See also Kerr.)

South African Surnames (1965) by Eric Rosenthal

A parish in Dumfriesshire.

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

When a Cornish name, from car, a rock.

Patronymica Cornu-Britannica (1870) by Richard Stephen Charnock

Keir Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Keir Come From? nationality or country of origin

The last name Keir (Hassaniya-Arabic: ﺍﻟﺨﻴﺮ) occurs in Scotland more than any other country/territory. It may also occur as:. For other possible spellings of this last name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Keir? popularity and diffusion

The last name is the 87,711th most prevalent family name internationally. It is borne by around 1 in 1,329,359 people. Keir is primarily found in Europe, where 41 percent of Keir reside; 40 percent reside in Northern Europe and 40 percent reside in British Isles. It is also the 123,939th most commonly used first name internationally, held by 3,324 people.

This last name is most widely held in Scotland, where it is carried by 1,126 people, or 1 in 4,755. In Scotland it is most prevalent in: Aberdeenshire, where 11 percent live, North Lanarkshire, where 8 percent live and South Lanarkshire, where 8 percent live. Aside from Scotland this surname exists in 43 countries. It is also found in Australia, where 20 percent live and The United States, where 20 percent live.

Keir Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The prevalency of Keir has changed through the years. In Scotland the number of people bearing the Keir surname declined 12 percent between 1881 and 2014; in The United States it increased 842 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it increased 458 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Wales it increased 800 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Keir Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those holding the Keir last name is predominantly Presbyterian (83%) in Ireland.

In The United States those holding the Keir surname are 2.53% more likely to be registered Democrats than the national average, with 50.7% registered with the political party.

The amount Keir earn in different countries varies greatly. In South Africa they earn 154.81% more than the national average, earning R 605,520 per year; in United States they earn 4.89% more than the national average, earning $45,261 USD per year and in Canada they earn 3% more than the national average, earning $51,174 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Kheir8940,389/
Keire89353/
Keier8989/
Keiar894/
Keisr891/
Keyir891/
Hkeir891/
Keihr890/
Keird890/
Keirz890/
Keior890/
Ker8627,532/
Kir8612,816/
Kheire80368/
Kheiir8083/
Kejgir8070/
Kheiar8020/
Keiher8018/
Keyire804/
Kegier803/
Keeier802/
Kaheir802/
Keyior801/
Kieier801/
Keiyor801/
Kheier801/
Kieiar801/
Koeier801/
Keiier801/
Kehier800/
Kerr75156,618/
Kere7539,517/
Kuir7531,600/
Kuer7530,963/
Kher7517,244/
Khir7511,316/
Kier759,234/
Keer758,217/
Kehr756,966/
Kear754,553/
Kire753,303/
Kair752,140/
Keur751,820/
Kyer751,252/
Kerz751,230/
Kaer75945/
Kirr75780/
Kior75435/
Kiær75372/
Koir75268/
Koer75228/
Åker75136/
Kirz75100/
Kerh7591/
Kihr7581/
Kejr7566/
Cker7511/
Kirø7511/
Keyr7510/
Kkir756/
Kirh756/
Ceir753/
Hkir753/
Hker752/
Kger751/
Gkir751/
Kqer751/
Kcer751/
Kcir751/
Koehier731/
Keihart731/
Kheiare731/
Keyhirt730/
Khair67281,048/
Khier677,713/
Kaire677,574/
Kiyar677,290/
Kauer676,575/
Khoir676,165/
Khaer674,491/
Kehar673,986/
Koire672,740/
Keyar672,131/
Khire671,923/
Kaair671,922/
Kaior671,472/
Kheer671,407/
Kajir671,320/
Kheyr671,308/
Khere671,304/
Kawer671,067/
Kuyer671,002/
Khoer67954/
Kayer67854/
Keyur67684/
Kower67635/
Kaier67577/
Kerre67459/
Keyer67442/
Kheur67416/
Kajer67384/
Khear67320/
Keuer67316/
Kuire67240/
Kerpė67209/
Keere67200/
Kujir67190/
Koier67174/
Kiyer67158/
Kuehr67150/
Koehr67149/
Kouer67149/
Kaiur67135/
Kaiar67124/
Kojer67120/
Koyer6794/
Kaihr6790/
Kayir6782/
Keare6775/
Håker6774/
Kerhe6769/
Hcker6765/
Káger6763/
Kiehr6759/
Ceier6758/
Cheir6753/
Kujer6753/
Kijor6746/
Kóger6745/
Kirhe6743/
Kierz6740/
Kerpf6738/
Keyre6737/
Kijar6737/
Kiyor6733/
Kheïr6732/
Khirh6731/
Kuier6730/
Kejar6729/
Koerh6728/
Kuiar6725/
Khyer6720/
Keear6719/
Kuior6718/
Kiier6716/
Kirre6714/
Kirhs6712/
Kherr6711/
Kerpp6711/
Khijr6710/
Hkair6710/
Kejor6710/
Keľar6710/
Kéger6710/
Kchir6710/
Koior679/
Kyior679/
Kájer679/
Koyir678/
Kerdt678/
Hkhir678/
Kehár677/
Ceiar677/
Keľár675/
Kerdd675/
Kherz674/
Kiior674/
Kherh674/
Kuiir674/
Keerr673/
Kerdh673/
Kijer673/
Kejer673/
Kerrr673/
Keesr673/
Kierr672/
Keuar672/
Kheirová672/
Keure672/
Kiear672/
Koerr672/
Quker672/
Queir672/
Kairh672/
Ķeire672/
Khehr672/
Käger672/
Kerzh672/
Kirzh672/
Ke'er672/
Khirz672/
Kearr671/
Kcher671/
Kcker671/
Kaiir671/
Kaijr671/
Kaerr671/
Kerhs671/
Kerrh671/
Keuor671/
Keyjr671/
Kirdt671/
Kisrt671/
Koiar671/
Kearh671/
Keyor671/
Kairė671/
Kiorh671/
Kkere671/
Kkire671/
Kijir671/
Kojir671/
Kkhir671/
Kkier671/
Ckair671/
Kyerr671/
Kesrh671/
Khirr671/
Khgir671/
Kehrr671/
Kirpp671/
Keuhr670/
Kuerr670/
Khuer670/
Kitrd670/
Kairr670/
Kearz670/

Keir Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Keir in the Hassaniya-Arabic language
ﺍﻟﺨﻴﺮalkhyr60
ﺧﻴﺮkhyr20
ﺑﻠﺨﻴﺮblkhyr20

Search for Another Surname

The name statistics are still in development, sign up for information on more maps and data

By signing up to the mailing list you will only receive emails specifically about name reference on Forebears and your information will not be distributed to 3rd parties.

Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Keir
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis