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).