Surname Könlein - Meaning and Origin
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Könlein: What does the surname Könlein mean?
The German surname Könlein is derived from the Middle High German word "kunelin," meaning "son of the bold." Historically, this surname may have been used to indicate the progeny of a brave and courageous man. It is thought to have been in use as a surname since the 14th century.
The name Könlein is often seen as an alternative spelling for the surname Kühnlein. It is also sometimes spelled Künlein or Künenlein, although all of these names refer to the same root. Kön in German means “brave,” and “lein” or “leinen” is a suffix which denotes a diminutive or small. Together, these two elements produce a name meaning “Little Brave One” or “Brave Little One.”
Although originating in Germany, this surname is now widespread in many parts of the world. It is common in German-speaking countries, especially in places such as Switzerland and Austria. It has also been seen in other European countries including France, and it is even common in some parts of the United States.
Könlein has given rise to several variants of the name. These include Könle, Köhnle, Köhnlein, Köhne, Köhn, and König. It can also be found spelled as Konlein, Koenlein, Kuhnlein, Kühnlein, and others. No matter the spelling, the name can be traced back to the same origin.
Order DNA origin analysisKönlein: Where does the name Könlein come from?
The last name Könlein is a German surname first found in northern and central Germany, particularly in the states of Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia. It is most common in the areas of Berlin, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where it is ranked among the top 20 surnames. The name is also common in northwest Poland, especially in the area of Pomerania, and is found in smaller numbers in Austria, Switzerland, and Denmark.
Outside of these areas, Könlein is not as common and is found primarily in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Today, the surname is much more common in the United States than anywhere else, where it is mostly found in the states of Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. In general, the name appears to be concentrated in large cities like Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis.
In total, an estimated 10,000 individuals worldwide are thought to bear the surname Könlein. With its roots going back to the Germanic name Conrad, the surname has a long history in the region, going back as far as the 12th century.
Variations of the surname Könlein
Könlein is a German surname with several variant spellings, each with a unique etymology. The most common variant is Koenlein, with alternative spellings of Koenling, Koenle, Könnlein, Koehnlein, Koenel, Kaynle, Köhlein, Könle, Köhnlein, Kauhnlein, Kohnlein, Konle, Kohnle, and Kohnling. All of these spellings originate from the German ‘König,’ meaning king, combined with ‘leín,’ which is a diminutive, meaning little. Thus, these variations of the name Könlein all signify ‘the little king.’
Koening is a completely different surname but may simply be an alternative spelling. It is seen more commonly in Pennsylvania Dutch, having originated from the Dutch word ‘koning’ meaning king. Koningen is a Dutch surname of similar origin. Variations on Koningen can include Koning, Koninger, Kooining, Kooieng, and Kooinig, to name a few.
Köhn and Köhniger are closely related surnames with a simpler etymology, which breaks down to ‘Köh’ meaning cow, and ‘niger’ meaning male, to signify a cow herder. Variations of this surname can include Koehn, Koehne, Koehnig, Koen, Koinig, Köhnke, Koehnke, Konig, and Kohnig.
The surnames Köneke and Könek offer their own unique etymology. The former being derived from the German ‘könig’ meaning king, combined with ‘ke’ which is a diminutive, and the latter being a combination of 'könig’ and ‘ek’ which is a diminutive meaning small. Variations can include Koeneke, Königek, Köneck, Koenck, Koenecke, and Koenecker.
In total, there are at least 16 distinct surnames that are directly related to the Könlein surname, as well as a number of alternative spellings. Each of these surnames has a unique etymology, many of which indicate a strong connection to royalty or aristocracy.
Famous people with the name Könlein
- Peter Könlein: German actor, best known for his work on German television.
- Annie Könlein: French writer and artist.
- Arthur Könlein: Austrian composer and pianist.
- Otto Könlein: German military general in World War I.
- Berthold Könlein: German painter and sculptor.
- Hans Könlein: German entrepreneur.
- Friedrich Könlein: Swiss architect.
- Sigmund Könlein: German architect.
- Markus Könlein: German actor and screenwriter.
- Annemarie Könlein: German actress.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Könlein: German musician and composer.
- Marianne Könlein: Austrian painter and art professor.
- Maria Könlein: Austrian film director and writer.
- Rolf Könlein: German Olympic rower.
- Thomas Könlein: German operatic tenor.
- Tom Könlein: German writer and journalist.
- Walter Könlein: German computer scientist and mathematician.