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Our SC line of the Kearse/ Kierse family came from William Kierse a Revolutionary soldier. His family was one of the early families to settle New Amsterdam ( now New York City) Hendryk and Jan seems to be the earliest coming to the new world from Gees, Drenthe, Netherlands. They are the Child of Kier Wouterse , son of Wouter Kierse. Names in the Netherlands at that time were taken from the father’s Christian name with an “ S” / “ se”/ “ sen” or Zsoon / dochter added to his name and added to each child of his family. The name Kier was a common Norse Name for men and boys found mostly around thee North Sea area. Most Kiers families today are most common in this are still.

http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.familycrest_details/s.Kearse/Kearse_family_Crest/Kearse_coat_of_arms/qx/Kearse.htm

The above link says it's English and the spelling variations are Kearsey, Kercey and others. This could be very useful for the search to the origin.

http://www.genealogysurnames.com/pages/Detailed/12354.html

Another link with two possible explanations.

[...There are still many KIERCE families living in Ireland. The name is sometimes spelled KIERSE or KEARSE, and is mostly found in Co. Clare. The Gaelic version is O'CIERSIC and is commonly known in Co. Kerry as KERRISK. It has also been anglicized as HEALY. The earlist known ancestor is a MacFARIAS....]

The same person as the second link, this time with more detailed information. The link is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/surname/sur11.html

Meaning of the name Ferris:
A corruption of Ferrers (which see). Fferis, in the Welsh, signifies steel

And according to the following link, the name Ferris means 'rock, iron', which has the same quality as steel:
http://www.bubbaboo.com/meaning-of-baby-names.asp?n=Ferris

That's all I could find.