Origin of Kierce Surname  

Origin of the Kierce Surname
(This is from the Genealogical Office in Dublin, Ireland)



I have two senarios. The first is associated with the Irish meaning "the son of Giers". The second is an old Gaelic version beginning with Mac O'Pheris back in the 14th century. Over the years it has changed to O'Pheris, Pheris, Keris, Kerris, Kerse, Kearse, Kierse, Kierce, etc.

The following entry was found in Dr. MacLysaght's More Irish Families (Appendix A)

HEALY, Kerrisk

In the Tralee and Killarney areas of Co. Kerry, Healy is usually a synonym of Kerrisk or Kerrish: in Irish MacFhiarais, i.e., son of Ferris. Woulfe thinks the eponymous ancestor was Ferris O'Helie. In County Clare MacFhiarais is anglicized Kierse.
 

An entry in  Fr. P. Woulfe's Irish Names and Surnames reads as follows:

MacFhiarais -M'Keriske, Kerrison, Kearson, Kerris, Kerrish, Kierce,  Kierse, Kearse, Kerisk, Kerrisk (Healy): 'son of Piers' ; a variant of  MacPhiarais, a rare and scattered surname. In East Kerry, it is corrupted to MacCeirisc and O'Ceirisc, and very often anglicised Healy,  the family being probably descended from a person called Ferris O'Helie  (Pierce Healy).