Surname Kientopp - Meaning and Origin

Kientopp: What does the surname Kientopp mean?

The last name Kientopp is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "kinton of" meaning "child's top". Kientopp is a topographic name for someone who lived in or near an area known for children playing with tops. This name might also be an occupational name for someone who made or sold tops or similar toys.

Kientopp is an uncommon surname and it is mostly found in Germany, especially in the states of Lower Saxony and Hesse and in the town of Berlin. It also appears in records in Switzerland and the United States.

The Kientopp family can trace their roots back to at least the 1500s, with the oldest known recorded references to the name in 1552, located at the archives of the states of Hesse, located in the city of Kassel.

The earliest known Kientopp ancestor was Hans Henrich Kintopf, who resided in Kinz Webser, Lower Saxony, in 1651. Hans had at least two sons, Johann and Jacob, who mounted their own families. The Kientopp family spread throughout Germany and beyond, but never achieved great prominence.

Today, descendants of the Kientopp family carry on the name and their proud German heritage. Many Kientopps remain in Germany, while others have spread throughout the world. Despite the passage of centuries, the Kientopp name survives and continues to represent a proud German family heritage.

Kientopp: Where does the name Kientopp come from?

The last name Kientopp is most prominently found in the western half of Germany, particularly in the region of Rhineland-Palatinate. It can also be found in France and Switzerland, particularly in Alsace and Vaud. It’s considered a relatively rare and uncommon name, and can also be found in the United States, roughly 500 people bearing the name Kientopp live there.

The Kientopp surname has a long history, with some families claiming to trace their lineage back to Amphion, King of Thebes who is mentioned in Greek mythology. The origins of the name are unclear, as it has changed and been corrupted over time. It could have derived from können, meaning “to be able” and Topp, meaning “top”. Therefore, the literal meaning of it is "the one who can reach the top".

It is known that at least some Kientopp families were descended from German nobility, most notably the Kientopp family from Trier, Germany. In France, few members of the Kientopp family remain, as the family had largely died out in the late 19th century. In the United States, the family is mainly concentrated in the states of California, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

Kientopp families remain scattered across Europe and the United States, connecting to their long and rich history. The symbolic meaning of the last name also lives on, “the one who can reach the top”, serving as an inspiring message to never give up on dreams, even if it’s a name only a few bear.

Variations of the surname Kientopp

The surname Kientopp is most commonly found in Germany, deriving from the Germanic language. The name has a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, which can either originate from the German form or have been changed to suit other languages.

Variants of Kientopp can be found in many forms, often appearing as Kientopp, Kientop or Kientoppe. In some cases the name may be spelt as Kínntopp. These alternative spellings are still in use in the modern day.

The surname may also appear in different languages with an added suffix, particularly in France, where the name may become Kientoppeau or Kientoppet; in the Polish language, where the suffix of -ski may be added to create Kientopp-Ski; and in Sweden, which adds the bonder- suffix to become Kientopp-Bonder.

Kientopp also has a number of surnames of the same origin, including the Polish Kientub and the Scandinavian Kientubbe, which are derived from the same root. Other surnames include Kientubinski, Kintzpo, Kientz and Kintopp.

In addition, the name is also sometimes shortened to Kien, which can also be used in a variety of languages and sometimes appears as a first name.

Although the exact origin and meaning of Kientopp is unknown, the name carries through many languages and appears in a variety of different forms, from the original Germanic form to the different variants and surnames of the same root.

Famous people with the name Kientopp

• Brittany Kientopp: Brittany Kientopp is a professional ballroom dancer who made it to the 10th season of the hit show So You Think You Can Dance.
• Adam Kientopp: Adam Kientopp is an American film producer who has worked on a number of films including the Jim Carrey comedy Me, Myself & Irene as well as the Ben Stiller vehicle Mystery Men.
• Joseph Kientopp: Joseph Kientopp is an American screenwriter whose writing credits include the TV movies The Warlord Returns and Private Obsession.
• Everett Kientopp: Everett Kientopp is a retired Major League Baseball player who was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1984.
• Anthony Kientopp: Anthony Kientopp is a Canadian actor who is best known for playing a supporting role in the horror film WolfCop.
• Corinne Kientopp: Corinne Kientopp is an American pop singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the band The Anix.
• Jonathan Kientopp: Jonathan Kientopp is an American comic book artist who is best known for his work on Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and New Warriors series.
• Andrew Kientopp: Andrew Kientopp is an American businessman who is the CEO of Kittenpack, a software development firm specializing in mobile application development and website design.
• Glen Kientopp: Glen Kientopp is a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, representing the 43rd district since 2008.
• Julian Kientopp: Julian Kientopp is an American engineer who is currently the Vice President of Technology at Netsync Networks, a software solutions provider.

Other surnames

KientoffKientopKientopf