Surname Köning - Meaning and Origin
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Köning: What does the surname Köning mean?
The last name Köning is of German origin, from the word “könig”, meaning “king” or “ruler” in German. This surname likely originated in the Middle Ages as a surname given to people with a noble or royal background. This is further supported by the spelling variations “Koehning” and “Konig”, which both contain the German root “könig”.
The surname was originally an occupational name, used to distinguish the royal family from other members of a noble house or line. During the Middle Ages, landowning and ruling was predominantly done by the same family, and so the Köning surname was a mark of distinction between the nobility and the common people.
Köning is also a toponymic surname, meaning that it was derived from the location of one’s dwelling. The places which adopted the name Köning were likely linked to the older ruling families, and could have been the site of a royal family home, or simply a place within the boundaries of a reigning family’s kingdom.
The Köning surname is an indicator that an individual is potentially of noble descent, suggesting a familial history of power and authority. It is still seen as a prestigious surname in modern German culture, and is still popular among the German population. The Köning surname is still retained today as a hereditary last name to mark the bloodlines of powerful and noble families of the past.
Order DNA origin analysisKöning: Where does the name Köning come from?
Köning is a last name found primarily in Germany today. In TELEFONBUCH, the largest database of German phone numbers and addresses, over 2,000 entries with this name were listed. This name can also be found in other European countries, especially in regions historically populated by German-speaking people.
The meaning of the name is uncertain. Some sources mention that it might come from an old German word "könig," meaning "king" or "ruler," while other sources trace the family back to a geographical origin – the town of Köning in Hesse or the Köningofen in the Bavarian Forest.
Although Köning is quite a rare name, there are some notable people associated with it. It's one of the surnames of German entrepreneur Werner G. C. Köning, and the prominent German composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach had a grandson with that surname (his legal name became Köninger after his marriage). Further, the German writer and poet Steffi Köning is well known in Western Germany.
Although Köning is not as widespread as it used to be, it is still a fairly common name in Germany and other parts of Europe.
Variations of the surname Köning
Surnames of similar origin to Köning can include Koenig, Koenigs, Königs, König, Königes, Königsberg, Köningsberg, Kunig, Kunigs, Coning, Conings, Kaening, Kaenings, Kahnings, Koening, Koennings, and Kyning.
Koenig, which is the most common variant, is a German and Jewish surname meaning king. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'kunch', which means 'king'. This surname has developed over the years and can be found in various spellings in countries such as Germany, Austria, Slovakia, the Netherlands, and Poland.
Königs, König, and Königes have a similar origin as the word König translates to king. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'kunninc', which means king.
Königsberg, Köningsberg, and Kunig are all variants which have derived from the German word 'König' and the words 'berg' which means hill or mountain.
Coning, Conings, Kaening, Kaenings, Kahnings, Koening, and Koennings are all variants which originate from German words such as 'konning', which means king, and 'coning', which may be the German variant of 'king'.
Kyning is an English word which is derived from the Old English word 'cyning', which means king.
In conclusion, the various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Köning have influenced several countries over the years and are still in use today.
Famous people with the name Köning
- Andreas Köning: German footballer for FC Köln.
- Lauren Köning: American singer/songwriter, for her single “Centerline”.
- Benjamin Köning: German actor and voice-over talent.
- Luca Köning: Swiss professional skier and Olympian.
- Carmen Köning: German social media influencer, musician, and author.
- Ruth Köning: German artist and sculptor.
- Dieter Köning: German fine artist and painter.
- Konstantin Köning: German rock musician and founder of the punk rock band "Königsrock".
- Heinz Köning: German scientist, astronomer, and astrologer.
- Alexandra Köning: German author of children’s books and novelist.
- Willy Köning: German former footballer and coach of Bundesliga team Borussia Dortmund.
- Carl Köning: Dutch painter and long-time royal court painter to the Dutch royal family.
- Friederike Köning: German classical pianist and accompanist.
- Dietrich Köning: German actor and veteran of the entertaining arts.
- Sophie Köning: German novelist and environmental activist.
- Laura Köning: German figure skater and nominee for the Streifenprinz award.
- Caspar Köning: German opera singer and winner of the prestigious Mozart Prize.
- Ulrich Köning: German photographer and filmmaker.
- Alan Köning: former German football player and sports journalist.
- Chris Köning: German actor known for his roles in German period films and historical dramas.