Surname Königs - Meaning and Origin
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Königs: What does the surname Königs mean?
The last name Königs is of German origin and is derived from the word “könig,” which means “king.” The name likely started as a nickname for a person who had some similarity to a king either in personality or bearing. In German-speaking areas, a Königs is likely to be a descendant of a noble family or even royalty.
The Königs surname is found throughout northern Europe, particularly in modern-day Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. The name is likely to have evolved from the Latin term “regis”, which also means “king”. Over the centuries, the spelling of the name has likely been changed due to regional subtle differences in pronunciation.
As a surname, Königs is a direct indication of one’s noble heritage. Though not necessarily a distinct sign of wealth or rank, having the surname implies that one’s family has some form of noble roots in the past. This may have been an indication of royalty in some cases. As such, it is the perfect testament to a family’s past that is still carried with them today.
Order DNA origin analysisKönigs: Where does the name Königs come from?
The last name Königs is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It is believed to be derived from the German word "König," which means "king," and may originally have been a name to signify royalty or nobility. In Germany, Königs is one of the 100 most common surnames and is most concentrated in the northeastern state of Brandenburg, especially in the capital city of Berlin.
In Austria, the last name has seen a dramatic surge in popularity in recent years, becoming the 34th most common surname in 2015. This may be due, in part, to its traditional association with the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and the Königsberg region of Austria.
Königs is also fairly common in France, especially in the region of Lorraine, where it has been associated with the Germanic surname Köning (or Koninge). The spelling may vary depending on the region, such as Koning, Konig, Konigsmann, and Konigsbaum.
Finally, the last name has spread to other countries due to large-scale migrations. One example is the United States, where an estimated 30,000 Americans carry the name. This population is primarily concentrated in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New York. Canadians of German ancestry are likely to have Königs in their family tree as well.
Variations of the surname Königs
The surname Königs has variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variant of Königs is Koenig, which is the German spelling of the surname. In addition to the German spelling, there is also a Dutch spelling, Koning.
Variations on the name, either from different languages or spelling variants, include Kőnigs, Kőning, Köning, Köngs, Koenigs, Coenigs, Conings, Koningh, Köhnigs, Keonig, Konig, and Köng.
Surnames of the same origin as Königs include Konigsberg, Koenigsberger, Kiliansberg, Koenigsheim, Kuehn, Kugel, and Kunkle.
The name König is derived from the German and Swiss German “Konig” or, in English, “king”. It was usually used as a nickname or descriptive term for a person with royal or noble status. This nickname then became an inheritable family name as people began to pass down their surnames to their descendants.
It is believed that the surname Königs was first used in the medieval period, with records showing that several members of the Königs family were prominent in the medieval period, particularly in Germanic and Swiss subjects. This suggests that the Königs family had noble origins.
Today, the surname is most common in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the United States. Its current prevalence in the United States is due to the many immigrants from these European regions who have brought the name to the States.
The surname Königs then continues to be used around the world as a representation of nobility and high lineage.
Famous people with the name Königs
- Princess Amalia Königs of the Netherlands
- German actress and model Sonja Gerhardt
- German filmmaker Florian König
- King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
- German photographer Kristina König
- German racing driver Sebastian König
- German author and professor Svenja König
- Dutch former professional tennis player Betty Stöve-König
- German journalist and author Jürgen König
- Retired Canadian ice hockey player Ernie König