Surname King - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Unearthing the Legacy of 'King': My Experience with iGENEA DNA Analysis
Participating in iGENEA's DNA Analysis unveiled the ancient roots and intriguing history of my family name - 'King'. It exposed the name's origin, its ties to powerful personages and the journey it embarked from Old English territories to present. The profound understanding this experience provided was enlightening.
F. King
read moreKing: What does the surname King mean?
The last name King is of Anglo-Saxon origin and typically holds a status-related connotation. Its origin goes back to the Old English word 'cyning' or 'cining,' which translates to 'tribal leader' or 'ruler.' This name was often given to someone who conducted themselves with a kingly demeanor or someone who played the king in a medieval play, or who worked for the king. In some cases, it was used ironically for a person who had adopted domineering or pompous behavior. Despite its English roots, the surname King has spread to many English-speaking countries worldwide, often appearing in different variations.
Order DNA origin analysisKing: Where does the name King come from?
The last name King is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from "cyning" or "cining," old English terms meaning 'tribal leader.' Initially, this was a nickname for people who conducted themselves like royalty or had played the role of a king in a pageant. It could also have been given to someone who served in the king's household.
The name King can be traced to pre-7th century England, making it one of the oldest and widely recognized hereditary last names. It spread to Scotland, Ireland, and Wales over time. During the Great Migration in the 17th century, people with the King surname migrated to North America, Australia, and New Zealand, further globalizing the name.
Today, King ranks as the 35th most common surname in the United States. It's also prevalent in England (especially the southeast), Wales, Canada, and Australia. Despite its Anglo-Saxon origin, its translation equivalents, such as Rex, Roy, Leroy, and Rey, are common in countries like France, Spain, and Italy. In Germany, its equivalents Koenig and König are also quite frequent. Thus, although the name King originated in England, it has regional variants and is common across several cultures today.
Variations of the surname King
The surname "King" has ties to multiple cultures and countries, resulting in several variations and spellings that either sound similar or derive from the same origin, predominantly English, Irish, Scottish and German.
In England, where the surname is commonly found, variations include "Kinge" and "Kyng." For Ireland, where it's an anglicized form of the Gaelic "Ó Cionga"(descendant of Cionga), similar spellings are "Kinga" or "Kinge." Some related names in Scotland include "Kingman" and "Kingsman."
In Germany, the equivalent surname would be "König" or "Koenig", which means "king" in German.
Variations could include appending prefixes to the "King" surname, such as "FitzKing", where "Fitz" indicates "son of." Patronymic versions, indicating a person is the "son of King," are also possible, such as "Kingson" or "Kingsson."
Depending on the time period and geographic location, there could be several ways to spell the same name phonetically, leading to variations such as "Kinge", "Kyng", "Kyngge", "Kynges" or "Kynge."
Surnames related by the profession of a "king" could also be related, such as "Rex" (Latin for "king").
Keep in mind, the actual variants of these names can substantially vary due to immigration, cultural blending, and regional dialects.
Famous people with the name King
- Martin Luther King Jr.: an iconic figure in the American civil rights movement.
- Stephen King: a bestselling American author known for his horror and suspense novels.
- B.B King: an influential American blues singer, electric guitarist, and songwriter.
- Carole King: an American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s.
- Larry King: a renowned American television and radio host.
- Martin Luther King Sr.: a Baptist pastor and father of Martin Luther King Jr.
- Billie Jean King: former professional tennis player from the United States, and an advocate for gender equality.
- Coretta Scott King: the wife of Martin Luther King Jr., an author, and civil rights activist.
- Gayle King: an American television personality and journalist for CBS News.
- Regina King: an American actress and filmmaker.
- Don King: a controversial American boxing promoter.
- Florence King: an American novelist and essayist.
- Jaime King: an American actress and model.
- John 'B.B' King: an American businessman and philanthropist.
- Jonathan King: a British singer-songwriter, record producer, and convicted sex offender. This list includes a wide range of individuals across various fields, including politics, literature, music, television, sports, film, and journalism.