Surname Kienz - Meaning and Origin
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Kienz: What does the surname Kienz mean?
Kienz is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word "kinze" meaning “household.” This name mainly originated in the German state of Hesse, likely indicating a geographical connection to the state in the distant past for many families with the surname Kienz.
The Kienz surname is associated with people from Hesse, as the name likely originates from the Hessian word for “household.” It is likely that the Kienz family were originally land owners, farmers, or landowners in the area who took on the name Kienz as a hereditary surname.
For several centuries, the Kienz family has been associated with many industries from boot makers, to carpenters, to owners of grocery stores.
The Kienz family has also been connected to the arts, with many members of the family being musicians, painters and artists.
Today, Kienzes can be found in Europe as well as in the United States. This German name is still found in the Hesse region and is also carried by families in other parts of Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the United States.
The Kienz surname is usually associated with a sense of strength and pride. It is a strong traditional name that is often associated with those who have a strong sense of self-reliance and dedication to their craft.
Kienz is a surname that carries a strong tradition and heritage, whether it is found in Hesse or anywhere else in the world. It is a name to be proud of, and for many generations, the Kienz family has been a reminder of this proud German heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisKienz: Where does the name Kienz come from?
The last name Kienz is not particularly common in any one particular area. Instead, it appears in small numbers in a wide variety of countries across the globe.
Kienz has been recorded in Germany since at least as far back as the 15th century. It is most common in areas that were part of the German-speaking territories at that time, including portions of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland. Even today, records of the surname appear most frequently in these regions.
In the United States and Canada, Kienz is much less common. Immigration records for the last name date back to the late 19th century when a variety of German immigrants settled in North America. It is most frequently encountered in Midwestern states, particularly those with large German American populations, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
Immigrants from Austria also brought Kienz to Australia and New Zealand during the 19th century, where today it appears mostly in the cities and rural districts that have been established by German descent settlers. In South America, the name appears mainly in countries such as Brazil and Argentina, which have had long-standing German immigrant populations.
Overall, Kienz is by no means a widely distributed surname. However, its presence has found an international home in many countries where multiple waves of German Emigrants have sought to make a life for themselves.
Variations of the surname Kienz
The surname Kienz has many variants and different spelling forms, including Kienzle, Kientzle, Kientz, Kenz, Kienzel, Kienzler, Kientzler and Kienzeler. It was most likely derived from a nickname for an inhabitant of a settlement by a kettle or cauldron, from the Middle High German "kienczenn" or "kienszlenn," both meaning kettle. The surname may also have formed from the Middle High German "Kieniz" meaning whip.
It is possible that the surname may have been adopted by people of other nationalities, especially as the spelling could easily have been changed. For example, there is a distinct Polish variation of the surname Kienz, spelled Kiens. There is also a Lithuanian form of the surname Kienz, spelled Kienius.
In the United States, the surname is most commonly spelled as Kienzle. This surname is also found in Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Lithuania, and many other countries.
In Germany, the surname Kienz has several variations such as Kienzler, Kienzeler, and Kienz. It is also known as Kinzl in Austrian regions, and Kunz in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In the United Kingdom, the surname Kienz is typically known as Kients, Kinds, or Kents.
Overall, there are many different spellings and forms of the surname Kienz, due to its various origins in different languages and countries. No matter the variation however, it is still believed to have the same origin stemming from a nickname for an inhabitant of a settlement by a kettle or cauldron.
Famous people with the name Kienz
- Jeff Kienzle: former professional NASCAR driver
- Volker Kienzle: German recording artist, songwriter, and producer
- David Kienzle: former American football punter
- Rudolf Kienzle: longtime East German racing cyclist
- Johnny Kienzle: retired professional ice hockey player
- Eric Kienzle: German footballer
- Faye Kienzle: renowned American flutist and professor of flute
- Dre Kienzle: German-born artist, art critic, and curator
- Dusty Kienzle: American contemporary visual artist
- Wojciech Kienzle: Polish film director, editor, and cinematographer.