Surname Kiss - Meaning and Origin

Kiss: What does the surname Kiss mean?

Kiss is a Hungarian surname derived from the medieval first name Kish. In Hungarian, "Kiss" means "small" or "little." The name suggests that the first bearers of this name might have been either of small physical stature or younger individuals in families where the same first name was used for multiple members. The name could also have simply been based on a nickname or endearing term. As a surname, it proliferated throughout Hungary and other central and eastern European areas. Today, the surname is quite common in Hungary and has been adopted by various people around the globe, either through heritage or migration. Remember, surnames often had regional variations in spelling, so there are likely to be other forms of the name Kiss.

Kiss: Where does the name Kiss come from?

The last name Kiss is primarily found in Hungary, and its origin is Hungarian. The name is derived from the Hungarian word "kis" which means "small," and was often given as a nickname for a person who was small, short, or young. In certain cases, the name might have also been used to denote someone who was the younger of two with the same first name.

This surname is now widespread, although it remains most common in Hungary. Notably, it's in the top 10 most popular surnames in the country. Outside Hungary, there is also a significant number of people with the Kiss surname in the United States, especially within Hungarian-American communities. Other countries, such as Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine, and Austria, also have a notable presence of individuals with the Kiss surname, reflecting the historical influence and geographical proximity of Hungary.

Variations of the surname Kiss

The surname "Kiss" is primarily of Hungarian origin. It is interesting to note that in Hungary, it's pronounced as "Kish" and means "small".

Variations of this surname are often as a result of immigration and translation between different languages. As people moved and settled in different regions, the original "Kiss" surname was often changed to adapt to a new native language, thereby giving rise to multiple variants.

The variations recorded include Kish, Kuss, Küss, Kis, and Kyss. Küss and Kuss are German versions of the name Kiss. In the United States, some families may have anglicized their name, leading to variants such as Kess or Kisse.

Other derivative forms due to regionalism, misspellings, or adaptations can be found across Central Europe, include names like Kisch, Kissel, Kissell, and Kissing. In certain parts of Eastern Europe, Kiss could be transliterated into Cyrillic giving names like Кисс or Киc.

Notable people with the surname Kiss include Hungarian painter Imre Kiss and the Slovenian football player Mihael Kìss. It is essential to note that Hungarian names follow the Eastern name order, with the surname appearing before the given name.

Famous people with the name Kiss

• Gene Simmons, American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor from the band "Kiss".
• Peter Criss, American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor from the band "Kiss".
• Paul Stanley, American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor from the band "Kiss".
• Ace Frehley, American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor from the band "Kiss".
• Zoltán Kuss, Hungarian musician and composer of popular and classical music.
• Szilvia Kiss, Hungarian tennis player.
• Alex Kiss, Hungarian professional footballer.
• János Kádár, Hungarian politician and former General Secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party (MSzMP).
• Kata Kiss, Hungarian actress.
• Mária Kiss, Hungarian classical flutist.
• Krisztina Kiss, Hungarian beauty pageant winner who was crowned Miss Universe Hungary in 2017.
• Tibor Kiss, Hungarian retired track and field athlete who specialized in sprint events.
• Kata Kéri, Hungarian singer and composer.
• Charlotte Le Bon, Canadian actress, model, and television presenter of French-Hungarian descent.
• Arnold Kiss, Hungarian footballer and team manager.
• Laszlo Kiss, Hungarian race car driver.
• Eva Kiss, American dancer and performer known for her roles on Broadway and Off-Broadway.
• Johann (János) Kiss, Hungarian professor of molecular biology.
• Linda Kiss, Hungarian singer-songwriter.
• Gabor Kiss, Hungarian photographer.

Other surnames

KisaKisacikKisaogluKischkatKischkiesKiselKiseleKiselerKiserKisewetterKisielKisiel-DoroginickiKisiel-ZagorianskiKisielevKisielevichKisielevskiKisielewskiKisieliusKisigKisilsteinKislKislanskiKisleKislerKislichKislingKislingerKispertKisperthKispohl