Surname Kind - Meaning and Origin
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Exploring Personal History and Emotion through iGENEA's DNA Test: A Voyage into the Kind Surname
My journey with iGENEA's DNA test provided a profound, emotional connection to my history and the Kind surname, leading to a profound shift in my view of my family and my place within it.
T. Kind
read moreKind: What does the surname Kind mean?
The surname Kind has a variety of different meanings and origins. The surname may originate from Old English and may have denoted a quality of kindness or courteousness. Alternatively, the surname could have been derived from the Middle English term “kynde”, which means “native” or “innate” and described a person originally from a certain region or area.
The surname could also have derived from personal names – such as Kynd, Kynte, and Kinde – which may have derived from the Old Norse name “Ketil” which meant “cauldron”. Kind could also derived from Germanic sources. The word Kind translates to “child”. This could imply that this surname originally belonged to someone in the role of parent or guardian of a child.
Historically, records suggest that this surname has been around since the mid-13th century. It is noted that the Kinds were a well-known Scottish family in the area of East Lothian, Scotland and that Kind is a common surname in Scotland today.
Today, Kind is a surname found all around the globe and is most common in Northern Europe. The meaning of the surname is a reminder of the importance of being kind and thoughtful, which could be seen as a positive trait.
Order DNA origin analysisKind: Where does the name Kind come from?
The Kind surname is most common today in Germany, the United States and the Netherlands. According to the surname database Forebears, Kind is the 1,536th most common name in Germany, where it is most prevalent in the state of Brandenburg.
In the United States, the Kind last name is the 1,164th most common surname. Kind is primarily concentrated in the West Coast states of Washington and California, according to the US Census Bureau’s 2020 data. There are also sizable populations of Kinds in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, New York and Florida.
Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, Kind is the 340th most common surname. The Netherlands’ Central Bureau of Genealogy found that the Kind surname is widely dispersed throughout the country, but particularly common in the Dutch provinces of South Holland, North Holland and Gelderland.
Exact records of when the Kind surname first appeared are not available, but it is thought to originate from biblical Hebrew names. It is also believed to have been used as an occupational name for people who worked as craftsmen or tradesman before becoming a fixed surname.
Variations of the surname Kind
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Kind include Kender, Kenner, Kenar, Kendel, Kendzer, Kendal, Kendel, Kindel, Kinder, Kindle, Kindall, and Kindling.
The Kender variant is most likely derived from an Old German word that translates to “descendent” or “child.” The Kenner variant is likely derived from an Old English word that means “wise.” The Kendel variant originated from an Old German word that means “place of fire.” The Kendzer variant is said to have been derived from an Old Danish word that also means “place of fire.”
The Kindel variant is similar to the Kendel variant, as it is derived from the Old German word "kindel", which translates to “fireplace.” The Kinder variant likely originated from an Old German word that translates to “descendant” or “heir.” The Kindle variant is also derived from an Old German word that means “to kindle,” which normally is related to lighting a fire. The Kindall variant is likely derived from an Old English word that means “family” or “kin.” The Kindling variant is derived from an Old Norse word that also means “fireplace.”
While there are numerous variants, spellings, and surnames that are related to the surname Kind, they all have one common origin: the Old German word “kinder” which translates to “descendent” or “child.”
Famous people with the name Kind
- Daniel Kind: Danish novelist, actor, and comedian
- Bill Kind: American author, speaker, and antifragility expert
- Molly Kind: Award-winning American filmmaker and podcast producer
- John Kind: Author, recording artist, and former Mayor of Hopewell, VA
- Michael Kind: Actor known for roles in Under the Tuscan Sun and Mad Men
- Elmar Kind: German athlete and world record-holder in the decathlon
- Kerry Kind: American author of inspirational fiction
- Bart Kind: Belgian actor and impressionist
- Jeff Kind: Award-winning American advertising professional
- Robert Kind: Canadian politician from Manitoba