Kinnear

Kinnear is a surname of Scottish origin. It is found in Scotland and in other countries that experienced Scottish emigration, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. In onomastic sources, Kinnear is treated as a hereditary name that may derive from a place name or a Gaelic personal name, though precise origins are not always clear. Historical spellings vary as orthography changed over time.

Notable people with the surname include Greg Kinnear (born 1963), an American actor known for films such as As Good as It Gets (1997) and You’ve Got Mail (1998). The name has appeared in other public figures and professionals across sports, business, and public life, though none have the same level of international recognition as Greg Kinnear.

In contemporary use, Kinnear continues to be found in public records and media, reflecting its persistence as a family name across generations. The surname forms part of a broader group of Scottish-origin surnames that have spread through global migration and cultural exchange.