Surname Konitzny - Meaning and Origin
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Konitzny: What does the surname Konitzny mean?
The last name Konitzny is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German name Conitz, which was a topographical reference to the place one lived near a stream (conetze). Konitzny is a fairly uncommon last name, largely found in Germany, Austria, South Africa, Serbia, and Brazil.
The name appears to have evolved over time, with the "-ny" ending added to indicate a certain degree of nobility. This was a practice often associated with the medieval period, when "von" or "van" was often used to distinguish noble families.
Konitzny is a very interesting last name because it is not associated with any particular specific ethnic or cultural group. Instead, it can be found across a variety of European countries, indicating the possibility of a history of intermingling and migration between different regions.
Given the origins of the name Konitzny, it is likely that those with the name have a certain degree of heritage from long ago. Those with the last name may have come from a variety of places, but their ancestry is likely rooted in the many places referenced in the name's origin.
Order DNA origin analysisKonitzny: Where does the name Konitzny come from?
The last name Konitzny is most commonly found today in East and Central Europe, particularly in Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, and Slovenia. The earliest reference to the Konitzny family can be found in the early 17th century, in the town of Płock, Poland.
In the early 20th century, many Konitzny families moved from Central and Eastern European countries to North America, Australia, and Israel. Currently, a search of public records in the United States shows that there are over 400 people living today who share the Konitzny last name.
Across Canada, particularly in Ontario and Quebec, there are over 450 citizens who have the Konitzny last name. In Australia, records show that membership of the Konitzny family in Australia has grown significantly since the early 20th century. A search of public records in Australia reveals that there are more than 330 individuals with this surname currently living in the country.
In Israel, members of the Konitzny family settled in the country after World War II. While the immigration of Jews from Central and Eastern Europe had been occurring since the late 18th century, the wave of immigration in the 1940s to Israel increased the number of Konitznys living in the country significantly. Currently there are over 450 individuals with the last name of Konitzny living in Israel.
Variations of the surname Konitzny
Konitzny is a surname derived from the German or Yiddish name Konitzer (or Konitze). It is sometimes spelled as Könitzny and is commonly used by Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe. The variant spellings may include Konizny, Kanitzer, Konitze, Konitzewitz, Koniz, Konizin, Konißny, Konyzny, Conitzky, Konetski, and Conitzer.
The surname is derived from the town Konitz in what was formerly East Prussia (now part of Russia). It's origin dates back to the 16th century when many Jews moved to the area. The name Konitzny may have been used as a sort of regional identifier, similar to the way many surnames were adopted in England after the Norman Conquest. In some cases, families adopted the name to signal their support of the ruling Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The Konitzny surname is also seen in many other countries throughout the world, such as Belarus, Austria, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. In the United States, it is mostly seen in the Jewish population. In most cases, Konitzny is still seen as a Jewish surname but it has become more mainstream over the years.
In the United States, the name is sometimes seen as Konatzy, a more modern spelling based on the original spelling Konitzer. It is also sometimes spelled without the letter "n" (i.e. Konitzy). In other cases, the name has been shortened to Konz or Konty.
Konitzny is an old and respected surname. Despite its many variations, it remains an iconic surname which can be traced back to the town of Konitz in East Prussia. The main variations of the name are Konitzer, Konitsky, Konitzny, Konizny, and Konatzy. Despite its many spellings, it continues to provide insight into the past of European Jews and the many families that have migrated and settled around the world.
Famous people with the name Konitzny
- Lee Konitz: American jazz saxophonist and composer.
- Donald Konitzny: American philanthropist and Navy veteran.
- Catharina Konitzny: German author and journalist.
- Michal Konitzny: Czech footballer.
- Florian Konitzny: German rally driver and auto-racing champion.
- Ryan Konitzny: Canadian musician, producer and sound engineer.
- Walt Konitzny: American football player and coach.
- Alexander Konitzny: German author and businessman.
- Christian Konitzny: German author and radio show host.
- Veit Konitzny: German Roman Catholic priest and bishop.
- Wolfgang Konitzny: German television presenter and professional sports analyst.
- Joanna Konitzny: American author and senior policy advisor.
- Jessica Konitzny: American singer and songwriter.
- Georg Konitzny: Austrian sculptor and painter.
- Maria Konitzny: Russian poet and playwright.