Surname Kinnear - Meaning and Origin
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Kinnear: What does the surname Kinnear mean?
The last name Kinnear is believed to have originated from the Gaelic words "ceannard" or "ceannaire" which both mean "chief." This designation was likely a reference to someone within a clan who held a higher position of authority. The surname is most commonly found in Scotland and northern England.
Kinnear was derived from the Old English elements "Cyner," meaning "family head" and "Hara," meaning "army." Taken together, the name can be interpreted to mean "head of the army." This could be indicative of a clan leader who held an influential military role.
Another claimants to the origin of the name is from the Gaelic "ceann-Oire," meaning "head of the gold," likely indicating someone with a strong economic presence. This is more likely in Ireland than Scotland, where the name's roots are still found today.
The modern spelling of the name is somewhat fluid, with variants including Keenor, Kennear, Kenner, Kenor, Kear, Sneer, Kinear, Kinair, and Kinner. Although debated, the surname may have also developed independently in Germany, derived from the phrase "Kinner Heer," which means "children's army."
Order DNA origin analysisKinnear: Where does the name Kinnear come from?
The last name Kinnear is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Britain, the name is particularly common in Scotland, with the largest concentration of people with the name living in Aberdeenshire, where, according to data from the UK's Office for National Statistics, around 0.29% of the population bears the family name. It is also found in certain areas of England, including along the northeast coast, the West Midlands, and Devon and Cornwall in the southwest.
In Ireland, the name Kinnear is most closely associated with county Tyrone, particularly the Strabane district. Approximately 0.19% of the population of Ireland has the last name Kinnear. It is also found in smaller numbers in counties Cork, Down, Londonderry, Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford.
The name is also found in other parts of the world, with the most notable concentration in Canada, particularly in Ontario, where it is estimated that around 0.09% of the population has the surname. Kinnear is also found in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, New York and North Carolina. Smaller numbers of people with this surname have been located in other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and Germany.
Variations of the surname Kinnear
The surname Kinnear is of Scottish origin, originating as a toponymic name for someone from the Marton area. There are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Variants
The most common variants of the Kinnear surname include Kenner, Kinar, Kinners, Keanor, Kinner, Kinnar, and Kynar. These variants originated from differences in pronunciation or dialects in the Scots language.
Spellings
Spelling variations of the surname Kinnear include Kenar, Kyner, Kinear, Kinar, Kinare, Kynare, Keneare, Kienar, Kinard, Keynear, Kenear, Kennar, and Kinnaird.
Surnames
There are many surnames that are descended from the original name, Kinnear. As surname patterns evolved, some of them became compounds like Kinnearson and Kinneary, while others became fossilized forms like the French-derived Kennard and MacKinney.
In some cases, those with the Kinnear surname have changed it to surnames that sound similar, such as Kinney, Kenney, MacQuinney, or McKinney.
The name Kinnear also exists in other cultures, including Mitnick/Mytnich and Keinirch/Kahnirch in Jewish cultures.
Overall, people of the same ancestral origin might have many different spellings and surnames, though they most likely originate from the same source.
Famous people with the name Kinnear
- Greg Kinnear: an American actor and comedian best known for roles in films such as As Good As It Gets, You've Got Mail, and Little Miss Sunshine.
- Joan Kinnear: a Canadian actress best known for roles in films and television series such as Road to Avonlea, Goosebumps, and There's Nothing Out There.
- Lawrence Kinnear: a British actor, writer, editor, and director best known for roles in films such as The Visitor, The Lord of the Rings, and Edge of Darkness.
- Owen Kinnear: an American actor best known for roles in films such as Star Trek Into Darkness and Water for Elephants.
- Thomas Kinnear: a British actor best known for roles in films such as Lark Rise to Candleford and The Descent.
- Tim Kinnear: an English actor best known for roles in television series such as The Bill and Holby City.
- David Kinnear: an American cinematographer best known for his work in films such as Hotel Rwanda, The Bourne Legacy, and The Wolf of Wall Street.
- Gillian Kinnear: a Canadian actress best known for her roles in films such as Firewall and Barbie & Her Sisters in The Great Puppy Adventure.
- Audrey Kinnear: a South African actress best known for roles in television series such as Jozi-H, Long Street, and Mzansi Love.
- Sir Bill Kinnear: a Scottish businessman and investor best known for his involvement in the Kinnear and Co. investment company.