Surname Keer - Meaning and Origin
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Keer: What does the surname Keer mean?
The last name Keer is of Germanic origin and has two possible meanings. The first usage of the name refers to the Old High German word "keiran" which meant "to cut" and suggests that it may have been an occupational name for someone who worked as a tailor or cutter of cloth. Alternatively, it could also have derived from the Old High German word "keren" meaning "to turn" which suggests that the bearers of the name may have been millers who turned the grindstones used to produce flour.
In German records, the name Keer is found from the 13th century onward. Records indicate that it was initially used as an occupational name referring to someone working as a tailor, miller or cutter of cloth. It later became a more widespread patronymic name meaning "son of Keer". During the 13th century, the name Keer was ranked among the 150 most common German last names.
The Keer surname is particularly associated with the ancient region of Westphalia which is now part of Germany. During the 16th century, variants of the name Keer such as Kir, Kieren and Kiersten were found in this region. The name also appears in records in countries like Austria, Sweden and Hungary as well as in the Netherlands, France and England. The most common spellings of the name are Keer, Keir, Kier and Kierr.
Order DNA origin analysisKeer: Where does the name Keer come from?
The last name Keer is mostly found in the Netherlands today. It is an Anglicized version of the Dutch van der Keer – a Dutch patronymic surname meaning "from the keer", a type of small settlement.
Keer is a rare last name today but was more commonly found in the pre-1800s in the Netherlands. According to the Netherlands Central Bureau of Genealogy’s genealogical database, there were roughly 2,000 people in the Netherlands carrying the surname Keer in the early 1970s. These include Van der Keer, Van Keer, and Keere.
The largest concentration of individuals bearing the Keer name today are located in the regions of South Holland and Zeeland. In South Holland, the majority of people have the van der Keer surname, representing almost 40% of the total Keer population of the region.
Additionally, Keer can sometimes be found in the Netherlands Antilles islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, part of the Caribbean, as well as in Europe, particularly Germany. Outside of Europe, it also has a presence in the US, Canada, and New Zealand, with a few families in Australia.
The last name Keer is usually pronounced "kair" or "kahr" in Dutch. Its variant forms, van der Keer and van Keer, are pronounced similarly, with the pronunciation dependent on the region or country in which it is spoken.
Variations of the surname Keer
The surname Keer has several variants in terms of spellings and variants of the same origin. Common spellings of Keer include Keir, Kier, Kyer, and Kehr, among many others. Depending on the country of origin, the name may also be spelt as Kihr, Kyhr, Kyer, or Kyrr. Additionally, Keer can be spelled and pronounced as Care, Cur, and Keare.
The surnames derived from the same origin include Kears, Kyers, Kyres, Kear, Kyar, and Kyer. Other spellings of Keer-derived surnames include Keirs, Kires, Kirs, Kyes, Keares, and Caers. Variants of the name are also seen in other languages, such as Carre in Spanish, and the Dutch spelling of Kees.
Keer appears to have originated from two sources, namely, the Scottish form of the Old Norse name, "Kjarr", meaning marsh, and the Middle English term "kere", which translates to care or watchful. The name is most likely derived from the latter of the two, and is thought to be an occupational name for someone who was a watchman.
The surname Keer is also seen across multiple countries including Scotland, England, Ireland, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and popularly in India. The Keers are thus thought to be a scattered community of descendants of individuals with the same surname, from various root origins, who have settled in various parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Keer
- Sonia Keer: Sonia Keer is a model, influencer, and content creator from the United States. She’s been featured in Maxim, Playboy, and has a sizable presence on Instagram.
- Shan Keer: Shan Keer is an entrepreneur from India, best known for starting the brokerage Zerodha, which is considered one of the largest zero commission brokers in the country.
- Leo Keer: Leo Keer is a Dutch designer and Street Artist who is known for his playful and imaginative 3D street installations. He is best known for his 3D trompe-l’oeil paintings and sculptures that trick viewers into thinking that the installations are real.
- Omar Keer: Omar Keer is a Pakistani-Canadian actor who has been featured in numerous movies and television shows, most notably SyFy’s Lost Girl. He is also a martial artist and hold black belts in a variety of martial arts.
- Bobby Keer: Bobby Keer is an actor from India, best known for his role as Professor Manivasan in the critically acclaimed 2018 film Kaala. He has also acted in numerous Tamil television shows, including Nilavu and Kana Kaanum Kaalangal.
- Emory Keer: Emory Keer is an American magician and illusionist who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business. He’s been featured in the San Francisco Opera and has performed magic for audiences across the world.
- Mathew Keer: Mathew Keer is an Australian artist and sculptor who is known for his works that incorporate video, sound, and text. His works have been exhibited across Australia and he is a Fellow of the Australia Council for the Arts.