Surname Kral - Meaning and Origin
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Kral: What does the surname Kral mean?
The last name Kral (or Kralik) is of Czech and Slovak origin. It is derived from the word 'kral,' meaning 'king.' The last name is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone who acted like a king.
The use of the Kral last name is also prevalent in German-speaking countries such as Austria and Germany, where it is spelled 'Krahl.'
In some cases, the last name Kral may also be of Hungarian origin. It is believed to be derived from the personal name Károly.
As for the meaning of the last name, there is no definitive answer. It could signify a person with grand aspirations, or one with royal ambitions. It could simply be derived from the fact that the original bearer of the last name was a ruler or someone with a high status in society. It may also be connected to the Middle Ages when the Czech and Slovak lands were ruled by kings.
No matter what the origin or purpose behind the use of the last name Kral, it is an interesting name with a rich history.
Order DNA origin analysisKral: Where does the name Kral come from?
The last name Kral is quite common in Central and Eastern Europe today, particularly in Poland and the Czech Republic. It is an occupational surname, derived from the German word for crown, or kura, and was shared by a variety of craftsmen, such as bakers, brewers, and blacksmiths, who were associated with the making and repair of items related to royalty.
Furthermore, the surname is also particularly popular among the Germanic-speaking population in countries such as Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary, which has carried it through centuries both in terms of custom and geography.
The surname is not confined to Europe, however, and has spread from its Central and Eastern European roots elsewhere. In the United States, the number of individuals with the last name Kral is steadily increasing; it is now among the top 15,000 surnames in the nation, with the highest concentration in Michigan and Pennsylvania.
In Canada, there are fewer individuals with the surname, with the majority residing in Ontario and Alberta. It is also present in other parts of the English-speaking world, with small populations in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Finally, the surname is present in Australia and New Zealand and is quickly becoming more widespread there.
Variations of the surname Kral
The surname Kral (sometimes spelled Kraal) is a Slavic word derived from the root korol, meaning "king". It is most common in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where it is still the ninth-most common surname, and in Poland, where it is the twenty-fourth-most common right now.
Variants of the name Kral can be identified from Krell, Kralese, Kralik, Kralicek, Kralovic, Kralovics, Kralowicz, Kralikova, and Kralovicova. It is a common occurrence to find variants with a double letter, such as Krayl, Kraall, Kraall, Kraell, Krayll, Kraalll, Kralle, Kraylle, Krallle, or Krall.
The surname, Kral, is often found combined or hyphenated with other names, in particular names of other Slavic origin, including Czapla, Kunich, Grodzicki, Miller, Stepien, Molnar, Hromadka, Ciesla, and Szatkowski.
The surname takes other alternate spellings, including Kroll, Kraeal, Krahl, Kraol, Krayel, Ketely, Kratel, Kratell, and Krull, often due to phonetic variation in pronouncing the surname or to immigration or naturalization record-keeping rules on spelling that were in effect during different periods of time.
In addition, some variations of the name are derived from language translations or phonetic equivalents, for example, Krueger in German, Krol in Polish, El Kral in Arabic, Kràl in Slovene, Kraal in Afrikaana, and Kralj in Croatian.
The surname Kral has also become intertwined with other surnames through intermarriage or family mergers, creating more surnames such as Krallenberger, Caplakral, Czapkrahl, and Krahlcapler.
Famous people with the name Kral
- Roman Kral: Czech professional ice hockey player.
- Brent Kral: Canadian improvisational comedian and actor.
- Jiří Kral: Czech cross-country skier.
- Kevin Kral: Czech figure skater.
- Petr Kral: Czech ice hockey player.
- Zdeněk Kral: Czech handball player.
- Andrej Kral: Slovak singer and music producer.
- Viktor Kral: Czech film composer.
- Vaclav Kral: Czech nuclear physicist.
- Derek Kral: American actor.
- Míla Kral: Czech composer.
- Lena Kral: Czech actress known for roles in Czech films like Woman in Blue and Yellow Cowboy.
- Vojtěch Kral: Czech actor.
- Natálie Kral: Czech actress.
- Zuzana Kral: Slovak triathlete.
- Jiří Kral: Czech poet.
- Jan Kral: Czech singer.
- Daniel Kral: Czech composer and flautist.
- [Marie] Sára Kral: Czech pianist.
- Karel Kral: Czech basketball player.