Surname Kientz - Meaning and Origin
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Kientz: What does the surname Kientz mean?
The last name Kientz is of German heritage and is derived from the personal name 'Konrad'. The name itself translates to brave and strong. Historically, it was first documented in the Baden region of Germany, where it is believed to have originally been an occupational surname—referring to a family that might have been blacksmiths. It has since spread throughout Germany and other countries, and emigrants have also brought it to the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The name Kientz is thought to be derived from the ‘kin’ element which, in many northern German dialects, means family. It is also thought to be a form of the medieval name Konrad and many associated spelling variants. Popular suggest that the –itz suffix denotes ‘he who belongs to’ or ‘son of Konrad’.
Today, Kientz's are renowned throughout a variety of industries, including music, sport, business, politics and academia. Family members are generally well-educated and quite successful, with a strong work ethic. The values of respect for their elders, loyalty, hard work, and fairness is instilled by parents and often carry through to their children. It is also a persistent name, with many bearers retaining the original spelling. Despite an ever-changing world, the Kientz name and its associated values shall remain respected for years to come.
Order DNA origin analysisKientz: Where does the name Kientz come from?
The last name Kientz is primarily found in Luxembourg, France, Germany, and Austria. In Luxembourg, the name is more commonly spelled Kientz or Kintz. In France, the name is more commonly spelled Quincet, Qunizet, Kence, or Kincet. In Germany, the name is more commonly spelled Kientz, Kintz, or Kincz. In Austria, the name is more commonly spelled Kientz, Kintz, or Kince.
Kientz is of Germanic origin. The name was first established in the Rhineland area of Germany and can be traced to several locations in the region. It is likely the name was adopted by natives of those areas when surnames were adopted as a means of distinguishing people in the Middle Ages.
Kientz is most common in Luxembourg, where it is the 92nd most popular surname. In France, the name is the 2,200th most popular surname. In Germany, the name is the 1,111th most common surname. In Austria, the name is the 1,561st most common surname.
Today the name Kientz is found across Europe, with some variations in spelling and pronunciation. It is also found in the United States, particularly in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, where families of German descent settled during the 19th century.
Variations of the surname Kientz
The surname Kientz is of German origin and is derived from the Old High German personal name "Kintzo". Other variants are spelled as Kincz, Kintz, Kantz, Kantzsch, Kuntz, Cuntz, and Kuntzmann. Kientz is a common surname in Germany, the United States, France, and Luxembourg.
In Germany, the spelling is generally “Kientz” or “Kuntz” and is found mainly in the foreal administrative districts of Lippe and Waldeck-Frankenberg in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as some parts of Thuringia. “Kientz” is also found in the southern part of Rhineland-Palatinate near the border with Saarland, and in the district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge in the state of Saxony.
In the United States, variations such as “Kincz”, “Kintz”, and “Kantz” are more common. The surnames “Cuntz”, “Kuntzmann”, and “Kuntzsch” are generally found in French-speaking countries such as France, Luxembourg and Belgium.
Each spelling of the surname has its own history and likely came from a different branch of the same family Tree. The name traces back to ancient Germanic root words, indicating the family has been present in the region since at least the early Middle Ages.
Famous people with the name Kientz
- Vanessa Kientz: French professional beach volleyball player who competed in the Beach Volleyball World Tour
- Wesley Kientz: American professional ice hockey player. He won the Stanley Cup in 2000
- Douglas Kientz: American former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Laura Kientz: former American national team softball player. She helped win the Gold Medal in the 1996 Olympics
- Roland Kientz: German journalist, historian and political scientist
- Mary Kientz: American artist, illustrator and muralist
- Justin Kientz: Germany-born American professional basketball player
- Christine Kientz: former German professional cyclist
- Detta Kientz: American bluegrass singer and songwriter
- David Kientz: English-born American actor and filmmaker