Surname Kinig - Meaning and Origin
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Kinig: What does the surname Kinig mean?
The last name Kinig is thought to be derived from the Germanic word "Koenig", which is the German word for "king". The Kinig name was likely given to individuals who displayed a regal bearing or who achieved a certain amount of power or prestige in their area. It's possible that the name was first assumed by someone of noble rank or a leader in a particular town or region.
In some instances, it is believed that the name could be a version of the Jewish name "Konge" which may have been given to those who had emigrated from Spain and Portugal. This name also has possible connections to the Middle Eastern name "Kinji" which is an Arabic title for ruler of the hill lands.
In the United States, the Kinig name first appeared in the 17th century in the northeast states. It is primarily associated with the descendants of the immigrants who arrived during the Colonial times. It is possible that some surnames have variations, such as Kininger and Kiniger, and many may have changed the spelling of the name in the process of their immigration.
Overall, the name Kinig is thought to be a Germanic-Jewish Olmoic derivative and could refer to a leader, ruler, or anyone with power or influence. It could also have more familial connections such as a noble lineage with a royal bearing or being descended from royalty.
Order DNA origin analysisKinig: Where does the name Kinig come from?
The last name Kinig is particularly common in countries with a Jewish population, including Israel, Ukraine, and the United States. The origin of the name is unclear, but it is known to be of Jewish origin.
In Israel, Kinig is among the most common last names in the country. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, it ranked at 321 out of 4,398 last names reported in 2020. Kinig is even more common in Ukraine, where it is the 10th most common last name.
In the United States, Kinig is not as common, but still appears in the White Pages directory. The name is most associated with areas with a higher concentration of Jews, such as the state of Florida. The name Kinig is usually spelled with two i's or Kiniggg, though it is occasionally spelled with just one i.
Overall, the surname Kinig appears to be particularly common in countries with a significant Jewish population. Despite the name’s Jewish origin, it has also become fairly common in other parts of the world due to migration and intermarriage.
Variations of the surname Kinig
The Kinig surname has a variety of different variants and surnames of the same origin, including Kinigh, Kynegh, Kynygh, Kenygh, Kyneygh, Kinigh, Kenigh, and Kynyghe. The surname is thought to be derived from the Scotland-Gaelic words "cinig," which could mean both "love" and "cheek." Another variant of the surname, Kinneigh, may have been derived from the Old Irish phrase "ceann eigh," which translates into "head of a stream' or "of the source."
The Kinnigh surname is known to be one of the earliest emigrant surnames to the United States from Scotland, and is thought to be a variant of the Scottish Kinig/Kynig surname. The names with slight variations, such as Kennigh, Kinnigh, Kynneygh, Kynney, Kyniaghe, Kynygh (in Scotland) and Keneight (in Ireland) were recorded in Ireland and Scotland in the 18th and 19th century
The Kinigh variant of the name is seldom found outside of the United States, and is the most common variant found in the US. The variant Kinney is an Americanized or anglicized version of the name. Kinney is sometimes used in the US as an abbreviation of other Gaelic names such as McKinney. Some spelling variants of the name include Kinygh, Kinig, Kynig, Keneigh, Kineaghe, and Keneaghe.
Surnames that share a similar origin to Kinig include Mackinig, MacKinney, McKinnig, Maginnis, and MacKeney. Maginnis is an Irish surname derived from Mac Fhinneadh, which denotes “son of Fhinneadha.” Mac Fhinneadha is derived from the old Irish word finn, which means “painted one”. The McKinnig surname is considered to be a variation on Kinig, and is believed to descend from the same family.
Despite some variations in spelling, all are thought to have the same ancient roots and are variations of the same name, Kinig.
Famous people with the name Kinig
- Aba Kinig, Israeli Artist
- Moshe Kinig, Writer and Poet
- Natan Kinig, Israeli Actor
- Ruth Kinig, Israeli Artist
- Simcha Kinig, Artist and Sculptor
- Yechezkel Kinig, Israeli Author
- Eitan Kinig, Israeli Singer
- Zeev Kinig, Israeli Radio Host
- Amir Kinig, Israeli Actor
- Yitzhak Kinig, Israeli Actor
- Ariella Kinig, Israeli Theater Director
- Dana Kinig, Israeli Actress
- Daphna Kinig, Israeli Food Blogger
- Yuriy Kinig, Israeli Film Producer
- Harry Kinig, British Soldier
- Benfica Kinig, Chilean Painter
- Avishay Kinig, Israeli Artist
- Tova Kinig, Israeli Painter
- Yael Kinig, Israeli Textile Designer
- Orit Kinig, Israeli Yoga Instructor