Surname Kienitz - Meaning and Origin

Kienitz: What does the surname Kienitz mean?

The last name Kienitz is of German origin. The name likely comes from the term Kienitz which originally referred to a small village or settlement in the former German lands. The term is derived from the words Kien (oak) and Itze (small river), which may explain why the Kienitz surname is often associated with oak trees.

The Kienitz surname has been documented in various parts of Germany for several centuries. It was particularly prominent in the Prussian areas of Berlin and Brandenburg. Records of the Kienitz surname in existence today range from those of a bishop named Johann Kenning, living in 1545, to the modern-day Kienitz family from Berlin.

The Kienitz family crest typically features the image of a red oak tree with two curved branches atop a green shield. This specific coat of arms is said to represent a family that was strong and distinguished throughout their entire history in Germany.

In modern times, the Kienitz surname can be found throughout the world. It is a common name in the United States, where it is found in many areas, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Colorado. It is also prevalent in Germany, where it is still very common to find people bearing the Kienitz surname.

Kienitz: Where does the name Kienitz come from?

The last name Kienitz is most commonly found in Germany, though it is also found in some other European countries. According to some sources, the name dates back as far as the 1600s when the family was based in Saxony.

In modern times, Kienitz is very common throughout Germany; in the most recent census, over 21,000 people had the name. In addition, the name is also found in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria. Records from the United States show that hundreds of people have also immigrated to the country with the Kienitz surname.

Kienitz is believed to be derived from Kiehn, an old German word for a female worker. However, some other interpretations suggest that the word could come from a diminutive form of the name Klaus, which is derived from the Latin name Nicholas.

Regardless of the origin, Kienitz is still a popular name today. Whether it is because of its connection to a historical figure or a unique meaning behind the name, it is still prominent within Germany and other parts of Europe, and is sure to be seen for many more centuries to come.

Variations of the surname Kienitz

The surname Kienitz is of Germanic origin. It has variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

Kienitz is a variation of the Germanic and Middle High German surname Keinitz. It is derived from the masculine Middle High German (MHG) word Keynt, meaning “porter” or “guard”. This surname was given to an ancestor who was a worker in a castle or a gatekeeper.

Variants of the surname Kienitz include Kienz, Keinitz, Keenitz, Keinz, Keintz, Kienitze, Kientz, Kyentz, Keintze, Kientze, Keystone, and Keyntz. These can be further shortened to just Kintz, Kents, and Keynt.

Surnames of the same origin include Keynt, Kientzel, Keyntel, Keyser, Kettner, Kinzer, and Kenney (or Kinni).

Kienitz is common mainly in Germany, as well as Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. It is most often found in Germany and among those of German heritage in the United States.

Overall, Kienitz is an old Germanic surname that has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. In particular, people of German descent in the United States may be familiar with this surname.

Famous people with the name Kienitz

• Ferdinand Kienitz: German bibliographer
• Julianna Kienitz: Austrian mezzo-soprano
• Nils Kienitz: German actor
• Hermann Kienitz: German painter
• Christiane Kienitz: German actress
• Barbara Kienitz: German operatic soprano
• Jörg Kienitz: German film producer
• Werner Kienitz: German architect
• Bill Kienitz: American television writer and producer
• Ekkehard Kienitz: German astronomer and astrophysicist
• Alexander Kienitz: German landscape architect
• Gerd Kienitz: German musicologist
• John Kienitz: Canadian politician
• Verena Kienitz: Austrian actress
• Marion Kienitz: German opera singer
• Wolfgang Kienitz: German cinematographer
• Daniel Kienitz: German filmmaker
• Christin Kienitz: German painter and graphic artist
• Regine Kienitz: German actress
• Wilhelm Kienitz: German mathematician

Other surnames

Kiening