Surname Ceir - Meaning and Origin

Ceir: What does the surname Ceir mean?

The surname Ceir has its roots in several countries including Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. The name in each of these countries is spelled differently, with variations such as Kerr, Carr, Keer, and Kear, but they all refer to a person from a rocky promontory or hilltop. In ancient times, the term ceir was used to describe an outpost or place of refuge or safety, and the surname was likely adopted to indicate that the bearer of the name came from such a place.

The name itself has Scottish Gaelic and Irish origins, and is said to mean “ananta.” This translates to “endless” or “enduring,” giving the name Ceir a strong connotation of strength and resilience. This meaning has been carried down through generations, and often those who bear the name Ceir are seen as resilient and resourceful individuals.

The name Ceir is an ancient one, with records of the surname being discovered dating as far back as the 12th century. Although the name may not be as commonly heard today, the strength and resilience of its original meaning remains an intrinsic part of the name Ceir and those who carry it.

Ceir: Where does the name Ceir come from?

The surname Ceir is primarily recorded in Ireland, however there are some with the last name recorded in Scotland and England.

In Ireland, the surname Ceir is concentrated in counties Cork and Kerry. Specifically, it is most common in the Munster Province. The numbers of people with the last name Ceir outside of Ireland is likely very small.

In Ireland, the surname Ceir is true for all of Ireland's 32 counties. However, according to the Surname Project, the distribution is not even. Some counties have significantly more people with the Ceir surname than others. The counties with the highest concentration of people with the last name include: Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Cavan, Galway, and Donegal.

Outside of Ireland, there are records of the Ceir surname in Scotland and England. According to the Surname Project, the last name Ceir is the 7,522nd most common name in the United Kingdom, making it a rare surname. The largest number of people with the surname Ceir can be found in Scotland, particularly in Aberdeen. In England, the surname Ceir is most commonly found in the North West region of England.

In the United States, the last name Ceir is uncommon. The US Census records of 2020 estimate that only 250 individuals in the US have the last name Ceir.

Variations of the surname Ceir

The surname Ceir is a relatively rare surname originating from Scotland or Ireland. It is generally thought to be derived from the Gaelic word ceir meaning 'shears', with the intended meaning of someone who used shears for a living, such as a tailor.

Variant spellings of the surname Ceir include Kere, Kear, Keer and Cear. The O'Kear family is also thought to be of the same origin as Ceir.

O'Kear is an Irish surname stemming from the Gaelic prefix O, denoting a descendant of, and the root name Kear. It forms a variant from the original name, Ceir, and has a possible origin of a mac (son of) Kear. A similar example of this is the Irish surname O'Neill, which has both the original spelling and an altered spellings.

The combined form of Ceir and O'Kear can sometimes be seen, often written as O’Ceir or O’Caire. This combined form is likely to have evolved through mishearing when the two names were spoken but written down separately.

Variant spellings of the name Ceir commonly occur when the name is written incorrectly on birth certificates, census records or other documents. These can include such variants as Ceare, Ceer, Cearr, Ceara, and Ker.

The surname has also been adopted into other languages, such as German and Dutch, where it is found as Kaiser and Keijzer.

Famous people with the name Ceir

• Kathy Ceir: former NFL cheerleader for the Arizona Cardinals, registered political lobbyist and popular fashion influencer.
• Tomás Ceir: popular Afro-Carribean music video director and award-winning film maker.
• Andrea Ceir: world-renowned chef and owner of several successful restaurants around the world.
• River Ceir: lead singer of the band Ghostcode and winner of the Best Newcomer Award at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
• Tré Ceir: professional skateboarder and one of the breakout stars of the X Games in 2021.
• Ted Ceir: award-winning photographer and cinematographer, known for his work on films such as “Searching” and “The Goldfinch”.
• Blake Ceir: three-time Olympic weightlifting champion and philanthropist.
• Cory Ceir: popular landscape painter and the founder of COMP Art, a global mentorship program for aspiring artists.
• Nathan Ceir: award-winning journalist and editor-in-chief of Buzzfeed News.
• Ese Ceir: singer and songwriter known for her powerful and emotional music that touches on important topics such as race and gender.

Other surnames

Ceitinn